Width
40 inches (1 meter) - 47
inches (1.2 meters)
Length
16 feet (5 meters)
Height
7 feet (2.1 meters)
Description
The Adelaide Rosella averages
13.5 - 14.4 inches or 35 - 36 cm in length.
The plumage is generally pale
to strong orange-red. The forehead, lores (the
region between the eye and bill on the side of a bird's head) and crown are orange-red.
The sides of head and nape (back of a bird's neck) are orange-yellow. The
cheeks are violet-blue. The abdomen and breast are yellow more or less strongly
tinged orange-red. The bend of wing and outer median wing-coverts are bright
blue. The upper side of the middle tail-feathers are dark violet-blue and with
dark green base. The outer tail feathers are dark blue with bright blue edging
and paler tips. The tail underside is pale bluish.
The bill is horn-colored-grey.
They have narrow grey eye rings and the irises (plural of iris) are dark brown.
The feet are grey.
Females are on average
smaller and often suffused more with orange. The pale wing-stripe is
occasionally present. They have smaller and narrower bills.
Sexing young birds can prove
difficult and DNA
sexing may be the only way to know for sure at a young age. However,
it may be possible to sex birds that are at least 9 months as the molt into
adult plumage.
Immature birds: The
orange-red plumage of adults are olive-green in immature except for the forehead, crown, upper cheek area,
throat, parts of upper breast, thighs and under tail-coverts. The inner median
wing-coverts and outer secondary-coverts are dull olive-green. The under
wing-coverts are dull blue. The upper side of middle tail-feathers are dark
olive-green with blue-black tips. The tail underside is pale grey-blue. The
pale wing-stripe is present.
Young birds attain the adult
coloration after their second molt - when they are about 12 to 16 months old.
At that time they also become sexually mature.
In their natural habitat,
they mostly feed on grass and tree seeds (including sprouted seeds that dropped
to the floor and were exposed to humidity), as well as a variety of fruits,
berries, flowers and nectar.
Additionally, they take
insects in their larvae - particularly during the breeding season, when they
require more protein in their diet.
They forage in the trees and
shrubs, as well as on the ground - usually in shaded areas.
Captive Diet
A good Rosella diet should
consist of canary seed, a mixture of millets, sunflower and safflower. Most
people will use a Cockatiel seed mix with added Canary seed. They
also enjoy fresh fruits & veggies such as apples, blackberries,
oranges, cucumbers, sweet potato and mango. Kale, boiled egg can also be
offered. I find that our Crimson Rosellas tend to appreciate fresh foods while
the Golden Mantles will take bits and pieces leaving leftovers.
Sprouted or germinated seeds are
usually more easily accepted by "seed addicts" than fresh fruits
and vegetables.
Sprouted seeds are
healthier as the sprouting changes and enhances the nutritional quality
and value of seeds and grains. Sprouted seeds are lower in fat, as the process
of sprouting utilizes the fat in the seed to start the growing process - thus
reducing the fat stored in the seeds.
Sprouted seeds will help
balance your bird’s diet by adding a nutritious supply of high in
vegetable proteins, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and chlorophyll.
Soaked and germinated
"oil" seeds, like niger and rape seeds, are rich in protein and
carbohydrates; while "starch" seeds, such as canary and millets, are
rich in carbohydrates, but lower in protein.
It is an invaluable food at
all times; however, it is especially important for breeding or molting
birds. Sprouted seeds also serve as a great rearing and weaning food as
the softened shell is easier to break by chicks and gets them used to the
texture of seeds.
They also enjoy fresh fruits
& veggies such as apples, blackberries, oranges, cucumbers, sweet potato
and mango. Kale, boiled egg can also be offered.
Please click here
for in-depth information on bird nutrition / diet.
Reproduction in their natural
habitat
In their natural habitat, the
breeding season is influenced by rainfall as well as the location of their home
range.
Northern birds usually breed
between September - January, while those found in the southern areas, mostly
breed between February to June.
In the northern parts of the
United States, they mostly breed from April through September; in the southern
USA, they may breed throughout the year.
The courting male will bow
forward low on the perch while sounding out the mating calls. The interested
female will do the same. This is usually followed by mutual feeding and then
the actual act of mating.
Wild Rosellas usually nest
near water, in the cavities of either dead or living trees, usually in eucalypts,
or hollow stumps and posts. The nesting cavity is usually over 3 feet (1 m)
deep and located up to 100 ft (30 m) above the ground.
The nest floor is usually
covered with wood dust. The female alone incubates the eggs while the male
feeds her and helps providing food for the young. In the wild, they usually
produce 1 - 2 broods a season.
Aviculture / Breeding
Rosellas are easy to breed;
and they are generally hardy. Provided they have been properly acclimatized
they can withstand colder temperatures. Some heat source may need to be
provided when weather conditions are extraordinarily cold. A roosting box will
also make it easier for them to keep warm. However, they do need a shelter that
protects them from the rain and cold winds / drafts.
Aggression is a problem
with rosellas -
males in particular are very aggressive towards other males exspecialy in the
presence of a hen. Young birds should be separated from the parents as soon
weaned to prevent parental aggression. It is best to keep pairs separately from
other birds.
Rosellas produce 1 to 2
clutches a year. The female typically lays 4 to 6 (rarely up to 9) eggs. The
round, white, somewhat shiny eggs measure between 0.87 - 1 inches (22 x 26 mm).
The female alone incubates the eggs for about 19 - 24 days. During the
incubation period she is fed by her mate. The young fledge when they are about
5 weeks old and are independent another 3 - 4 weeks later.
Established pairs can be
prolific and may produce two to three clutches per season - especially if their
young are pulled for handfeeding and they have plenty of food available.
However, typically they raise one to two clutches per year. During the
incubation period she is fed by her mate. After hatching chicks will leave the
nest at about 6 weeks old.
Some breeders like to pull
the chicks for handfeeding when they are about 2 to 3 weeks old. This will
allow parents to get started on another clutch.
Handfed Rosellas can still be
a bit flighty and care should be taken to ensure the wings stay clipped to
avoid injury. The young will need daily attention to remain tame.
These birds love to bathe and
should be provided fresh water to do so.
Housing
Single pets can be housed in
medium-size parrot cages as long as they are allocated time each day out of the
cage for exercise and entertainment.
Rosellas do best in an aviary
setting or long flight cages as they are avid flyers. It is recommended that
couples are kept alone in an aviary, and to even avoid keeping two couples in
two adjacent aviaries - as they may be aggressive and get distracted from
breeding. If separation is not possible given the space and resources that you
have, it is recommended to have the walls double wired with a separation of about
3 inches (75mm) or even place a solid wall between the flights.
You also need to have
available aviary space for the young birds as they should be separated as soon
as they are fully independent of their parents.
Rosellas like to chew on
wood, therefore, metal frames with strong wire / mesh is recommended.
Nest Box
A standard rosella nest box
size would be 10" x 11" x 24" (~25 x 28 x 60 cm). Rosellas like
their nesting place to be high up -- ideal would be 16 - 30 feet (5 to 10
meters) - or as high as the aviary allows. However, the preferences of parent
birds can be influenced by the size and type of nest-box / log in which they
themselves were hatched. If a standard nesting box is not readily accept, offer
a choice of sizes and types of logs or nest-boxes, placed in various locations
within the aviary, to allow them to make their own choice. Once a pair has
successfully nested in a nest box, it is best to keep that box for their own
exclusive use, and any other "spare" nest boxes can be removed. The nest
box needs to be removed and cleaned at the breeding season to avoid
contamination of mites, parasites and pathogens .
A climbing structure should
be attached inside the box - just below the entrance hole. The entrance hole
just is just big enough for them to able to fit through.
The nest log or box should be
placed at the rear of the aviary in a sheltered location to protect it from the
elements and provide privacy.
Calls / Vocalizations
Rosellas are often noisy,
except when feeding, which is typically done in silence. When roosting in
groups, soft chattering or high pitched
rapid 'pi-pi-pi-pi-pi' contact calls can be heard. Their alarm calls
are shrill and screechy. In flight, they make 'kwik,
kwik' vocalizations.
Rosellas are not known for
much talking ability
but they can mimic whistles and songs. Though they do not have a true song they
do have several melodious calls. Similar to a louder Red Rump, it is much
more pleasant than the shrill & harsh sounds of Conures, Cockatoos or Macaws.
Rosellas are known for their
loud, screeching voices (although vocalizing less frequently than some other
parrot species) and tendency to be heavy chewers.
They may become nippy as
well, if not well socialized. They are not amongst the best talkers.
Parrots generally present
challenges, such as excessive screaming or chewing - especially at certain
stages in their life. They do discover their beaks as method of
"disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage" and
they can generally be somewhat naughty, and it really is important to learn to
understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has
been established.
Undisciplined parrots will
chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. They regard anything
in your home as a "toy" that can be explored and chewed on;
destroying items that you may hold dear or are simply valuable. Even a young
bird that has not been neglected and abused requires proper guidance; this becomes
even more challenging when it involves a rescued bird that may require
rehabilitation.
Lifespan / Age of Maturity
Rosellas can be expected to
live 15 or more years. Females reach reproductive maturity when they are about
18 months old, while males are able to successfully breed when they are 2 - 3
years old.
Chinese: 橙玫瑰鹦鹉 ... Czech: Rosela adelaidská
... German: Adelaidesittich
... Estonian: leek-rosellapapagoi
... Finnish: Adelaidenrosella ... French: Perruche
d'Adélaide, Perruche d'Adélaïde, Perruche d'Adélaide (nominal), Perruche
d'Adélaide (nominale), Perruche d'Adélaide (race nominale)
... Italian: Rosella di Adelaide
... Norwegian: Mønjerosella ... Polish: rozella
pomaranczowa, Rozella pomarańczowa ... Slovak: rozela bušová
... Spanish: Rosela de Adelaida
