Pale-headed Rosella
Platycercus adscitus· 鹦鹉科(1 photos)
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Pale-headed Rosella
28-32 cm. Palest-headed Australian parrot. Nominate race (ne. Q): white or yellow-white with large white, and small blue, cheek patches; mantle feathers black, edged yellow-white; lower breast blue-white; undertail-coverts red; rump yellowish. Race palliceps (s. Q-ne. NSW): deeper yellow above; cheeks white; breast and rump pale blue-grey. Immature: like dull adults; female and imm. have traces of pink. Pairs, small flocks: feeds on ground and in foliage, blossoms; crops, orchards. Flight undulating; note rump colour: yellowish in n. Q; blue-grey in s. Q; turquoise in ne. NSW-se. Q, from cross-breeding with Eastern Rosella.
- Voice
- flight call, hard 'crik crik'; rapid, soft, high-pitched 'fee fee fee'.
- Habitat
- open forest, woodlands, scrublands, timbered watercourses, grasslands, clearings, roadsides, farmlands, orchards, crops, lantana thickets.
- Breeding
- Sept.-Jan., or after rain.
- Nest
- in tree hollow, stump, fence post.
- Eggs
- 3-5; white, rounded.
- Range & Status
- ne. Aust.: from C. York Pen. (Q) w. to Gilbert R.-Longreach (Q) and exceptionally to Bourke (NSW); s. to Tweed R., Inverell, Gunnedah, Pilliga and Walgett. Irregular s. to Richmond R. and Warrumbungle Range. Common. Sedentary.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Platycercus adscitus palliceps 2. Platycercus adscitus adscitus
