Platycercus elegans

1 Crimson Rosella at Hughes, ACT

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Identification history

	Platycercus elegans	1 Jul 2018	ArcherCallaway
	Platycercus elegans	1 Jul 2018	BIrdsinCanberra

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User's notes

This Crimson Rosella was feeding by itself. I wonder if this is a female as there is a slight green tinge in the tail feather. Also, is the yellow on the head common please? I could not find it mentioned in the guides I use. Thanks

3 comments

ArcherCallaway wrote:

2 Jul 2018

Interesting. I have seen hybrids with eastern rosellas before which have plenty of yellow, but in this case I think it is a mutation, perhaps a melanin deficiency?

ArcherCallaway wrote:

2 Jul 2018

Some interesting reading on bird plumages here (https://web.colby.edu/mainebirds/2010/03/07/ornithological-reading-list/). Note "For instance, a male House Finch typically has deep red feathers on its head, breast and rump. Males that are good at finding food rich in carotenoids have deep red feathers. Males on deficient diets are yellowish rather than red."
Also, I do not know of any distinct plumage features to differentiate male and female Crimson Rosellas.

BIrdsinCanberra wrote:

2 Jul 2018

Hi Ryu, Many thanks for the information on plumages and your responses. My comment about the female comes from 'The Australian Bird Guide' Menkhorst, et al; CSIRO; 2017; p. 274 " Adult female differs from male in having the central tail feathers suffused with dull green..." Happy to be corrected if I am misreading that. That is the only reference I have found stating an easily observable difference between the sexes so I have nothing further that a single line. Thanks again.

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