Green Rosella

Platycercus caledonicus

Content

37 cm.. length between 127 and 142 g. of weight.

The Green Rosella (Platycercus caledonicus) has the forecrown and lores bright red; a crown of a showy color yellow, marked in red and dotted with of Brown olive dark towards the part rear; area low of them cheeks and throat of color blue cake; ear-coverts a bright yellow, with the edges more dark. Strong contrast between the yellow and the dark area of the crown; Brown olive uniform in the the mantle, with fine dark green stripes on their feathers; feathers of the rump and uppertail-coverts have a diffusion of color yellow orange.

Curve of the wing blue; lesser coverts black; corbeteras internal Middle, black, lined in green dark, the light blue external; greater coverts Blue with feathers Interior black finished off with edges of color green; secondaries Blackish with vane blue externals (innermost with green edge); primaries Brown dark with vane external and dark blue margins; tertiary Brown dark with stripes Green.
Under, the wings blackish, with coverts and axillary blue.

The underparts is of color yellow with a tone clear of Orange and with small spots of color orange on the periphery of the area anal. Upper, the tail olive-green tipped off blue, lateral feathers of color blue pale with them tips white; undertail, the tail of color blue pale with them tips white.

Bill White grey; irises dark brown; legs grey.

The female It is smaller than the male and has the bill smaller; also shows more often a wash of orange-red in the upper part of the chest.

The immature they are more muted than adults, show more green in wing-coverts and have them upperparts of color grey olive and yellow olive in them underparts. Plumage adult is reached after the first comprehensive molt, in a few 15 months.

• Sound of the Green Rosella.

• Platycercus caledonicus caledonicus

  (Gmelin, JF, 1788) – The species nominal




• Platycercus caledonicus brownii

  (Kuhl, 1820) – Too little differentiated with the species nominal, according to some experts, to justify the recognition as subspecies.

The Green Rosella they are in all types of forest habitats in the territory in which they reside. But, more and more often, they come in orchards and gardens in urban areas, finding favorable conditions in those places to nest and feed themselves. But, its main habitat are still sclerophyllous forests and thickets. Apparently, on Hunter island, they have a strong preference for small ravines filled with piles of rocks.

Like most of the island birds that live in a small area, to the Green Rosella It is cataloged as sedentary. But, the specimens that live in altitudes of up to 1500 meters in the Alpine regions, they make altitudinal movements and approaching at low altitude towards the coastal regions in winter season. At the end of the nesting season, young birds roam in small flocks which do not exceed more of 4 or 5 individuals. The Green Rosella be associated at times with them Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius). Although they are not shy, These parrots take precautions and are very cautious When venturing to Earth to find their food. They prefer to stay in the foliage for this activity. Like most of the parrots, the female is attached to your partner by strong ties conjugal it last for many years. They maintain and strengthen these links practicing processions which are very similar to the one of other parrots.

The Green Rosella nest during the period from September to February. The nest It is usually placed in a cavity of any branch or hollow tree trunk, normally a eucalyptus. They also occupy, exceptionally, the walls of old buildings. They use abandoned nests of sparrows into disuse.

The spawning usually contains between 4 and 6 eggs and your incubation takes a few 19 days. The chicks are altricial and leave the nest only after 3 weeks after hatching. No additional information on the care and development of the offspring.

The Green Rosella they eat mainly eucalyptus seeds, Mirto, acacia, ragwort large aromatic flowers, canaigre, Solanaceae (Solanum) and pimelea. Most flowers are toxic to pets.

These parakeets also eat many types of seeds of grasses and shrubs, some of which are at higher altitudes.

Do not disdain the berries of coprosma and the Hawthorn, they represent an important part of their diet in winter. The menu is sometimes supplemented with psyllids they are small homoptera and insect larvae .

Size of the area of distribution (reproduction / resident): 68.100 km2

The Green Rosella they are endemic in Tasmania. Also found in the larger islands of the Bass Strait, that is to say, on isla King and Flinders island. Has also been recorded in the Maatsuyker island, front South of Tasmania.

Birds coming from leaks can be found around Sydney.

The species is common and widespread within its range, with a stable world population of more than 50.000 specimens.

One small number in captivity.

The Green Rosella is protected, but it can be killed with a permit when they cause damage to crops.

The population living in the North of Tasmania It is sometimes differentiated under the name brownii, but this so-called subspecies differences are not as marked enough to consider it as such.

• Platycercus caledonicus caledonicus

  (Gmelin, JF, 1788) – The nominal species

• Platycercus caledonicus brownii

  (Kuhl, 1820) – isla King.

• Current category of the Red List of the UICN: Least concern

• Population Trend: Decreasing

The size of the world population It has not been quantified, Although estimated at more of 50.000 specimens. The species according to sources, it is common throughout its small range (pit et to the. 1997).

The population is suspected that it may be declining due to the habitat destruction in course of King Island (pit et to the. 1997).

The Green Rosella It may cause damage to the apple orchards and, Although protected, It can be controlled under a system of licensing.

It is not a popular Aviary bird, possibly due to its lack of color and its aggressive reputation.

– Green Rosella, Caledonia Parrot, Green Parrot, Mountain Parrot, Tasmanian Rosella, Yellow-bellied Parakeet, Yellow-bellied Parrot, Yellow-breasted Parakeet, Yellow-breasted Parrot (ingles).
– Perruche à ventre jaune (French).
– Gelbbauchsittich (German).
– Rosela-da-caledônia (Portuguese).
– Perico de Tasmania, Rosela Verde (español).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittaculidae
– Genus: Platycercus
– Scientific name: Platycercus caledonicus
– Citation: (Gmelin, JF, 1788)
– Protonimo: Psittacus caledonicus

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“Green Rosella” (Platycercus caledonicus)

Sources:

– Sounds: Marc Anderson (Xeno-canto)