Western Rosellas or Yellow-cheeked Rosellas
Rosellas Information ... Rosella Species ... Rosella Photo Gallery ... Bird Nutrition
Books, DVDs about Rosellas (Shipped out of: 
| 
| 
| 
)
The Western Rosella (Platycercus icterotis) is also known as the Stanley Rosella, Earl of Derby's parakeet or Yellow-cheeked parakeet.
Distribution:
It is the smallest species of rosella and is indigious to the coastral areas of South-western Australia.
Description:
Western Rosellas average 25 - 26 cm or 10 inch in length - including the long tail.
This Rosella has a vividly colorful plumage. The head, breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts are red. The chin, cheeks and lores (the regions between the eyes and bill on the side of a bird's head) are yellow. The nape and back feathers are black with green edging; also partially with red edging in some older birds, The shoulder feathers are black becoming green towards tips. The inner median wing-coverts are black. The edge of wing and outer median wing-coverts and under wing-coverts are violet-blue. Secondary-coverts are green with violet-blue outer webs. Secondaries are green with narrow greenish-blue edging to outer feathers. The outer webs are bright violet-blue at base of primaries and primary-coverts. The lower back and upper tail-coverts are green. The upperside of the middle tail-feathers are dark green. The outer tail-feathers are pale blue with dark blue base and pale tips. The tail underside was pale bluish. The bill is light greyish-horn color. They have a narrow periophthalmic ring that is grey to dark grey. The irises are dark brown and the feet are greyish-brown.
The hen's plumage is a duller red. Her breast, upper abdomen, crown, nape and lower cheeks are green with broad dull red edging. Her back is dull black, each feather broadly edged with green. The outer middle wing-coverts are green tinged violet-blue. The secondary-coverts and outer secondaries have less violet-blue to the outer webs. The outer webs at base of primaries and primary-coverts are dull violet-blue. Her lower back and upper tail-coverts are green. The upperside of the middle tail-feathers are dull dark green. The outer tail-feathers are pale blue with dark green base and pale tips. The whitish under wing-stripe is present.
Immatures are mainly green to olive-green and with orange-red feathers on forehead, breast, abdomen and umder tail-coverts. Young males have more red, particularly breast feathers, which are orange-red. The yellow cheek patch is mostly absent. The light under 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.
Mutations / Colors: In aviculture, many beautiful mutations have occurred. Please visit this website for photos.
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 in 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.
- Click here for more information on bird nutrition.
Breeding:
Rosellas are easy to breed; they are robust, do not fear cold but need a dry shelter. The breeding season usually starts in March or April (in Australia from September through March). When courting the male will bow forward low on the perch while sounding out the mating calls. If approved the hen will do the same and they can often be seen feeding each other before mating.
The Western Rosella hen typically lays 3 to 8 eggs that she incubates alone for about 20 days. During the incubation period she is fed by her mate. 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 prefer to pull babies at 2-3 weeks old for handfeeding. 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.
Housing:
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 contiguous aviaries - as they may be aggressive and get distracted from breeding. If this 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 neighbors. 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.
Minimum aviary size should be about:
Width: 40 inches (1000mm) - 47 inches (1200 mm)
Length: 16 feet (5000 mm)
Height: 7 feet (2100 mm)
The roof should be covered with transparent or opaque corrugated roofing material. For easy maintenance and sanitation, a concrete floor that can be hosed down daily is recommended.
Nest Box:
In their natural habitat, they nest in a tree cavity, high above the ground, filled with chips or turf. In captivity, a standard rosella nest box size would be 10" x 11" x 24". Rosellas like their nesting place to be high up -- ideal would be 5 to 10 meters - or as high as the aviary allows. 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.
- Please click here for in-depth information on breeding.
- Click here for average clutch sizes and incubation data for the different rosella species.
Taxonomy:
Scientific: Platycercus icterotis icterotis ... English: Western Rosella, Yellow-cheeked Rosella ... Dutch: Stanley Rosella, Geelwang Rosella ... German: Stanleysittich ... French: Rosella Stanley de qouest
Sub-Species / Races Including Nominate: icterotis, xanthogenys
Sub-species:
Species: Scientific: Platycercus icterotis xanthogenys ... English: Red-backed Western Rosella ... Dutch: Roodrug Stanley Rosella ... German: Rotrücken Stanleysittich ... French: Rosella de Salvador
Description: As icterotis, but with paler cheek patch; nape, back, and shoulder feathers black with broad brownish-grey and red edging; lower back and upper tail-coverts olive-grey; middle tail-feathers dull dark blue with little or no dark green tingeing. Female as icterotis, but much paler; nape, back and shoulder feathers dark grey with broad brownish-grey edging; lower back and upper tail-coverts olive-grey. Immatures as described for nominate form, but mainly olive-grey; back and wing edging pale grey.
Length: 26 cm (10 ins)
Distribution: The interior of south-western Australia
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (scroll down to no. 2 - click to view photo
Photo, Video and/or Article contributions are welcome! Please click here for info
The Avianweb strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail. THANK YOU!
