Crimson RosellaScientific name: Platycercus elegans
Meaning of name: Platycercus is from the Greek words platys, meaning flat, and cercos, meaning tail. Elegans is Latin for handsome.
Distribution: The Crimson Rosella is naturally found from Adelaide, in the south east of Australia and up the east coast to Cairns.
Description: Up to 38cm long with a 53cm wingspan. This species comes in three colour variations – crimson, yellow and a grading between the two.
Remarks: As this species doesn’t occur naturally near Perth, it is likely that these birds are aviary escapees. The birds photographed appear to be the yellow type of Crimson Rosella.
References: Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Various contributors.
What Bird is That? Neville W Cayley. 1978
This is the yellow form of Crimson Rosella.
Crimson Rosellas occur naturally in the south east of Australia.
These birds are likely to be aviary escapees.
