How a colonial landmark in New South Wales gave these colourful parrots their name
In short: These vibrant Australian parrots are known as rosellas, but the moniker has nothing to do with roses. The name evolved from a geographic accident involving early settlers who spotted the birds near a specific hill. Today, these medium-sized cavity nesters are celebrated for their distinctive plumage and complex evolutionary history.
The genus Platycercus, which translates from Greek to mean flat-tailed, was formally described by naturalist Nicholas Aylward Vigors in 1825. The common name rosella emerged through a linguistic shift: settlers living near Rose Hill in New South Wales frequently encountered the eastern rosella, leading them to call the birds Rosehill parrots. This eventually shortened to Rosehiller and finally settled into the current term, rosella.
Taxonomically, the genus comprises six species and nineteen subspecies, all native to Australia and nearby islands. While they are absent from the outback, they have established populations in New Zealand and on Norfolk Island. Researchers have long debated their precise lineage, with molecular studies using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA providing conflicting insights into how various species, such as the blue-cheeked and white-cheeked groups, diverged over time.
Rosellas are medium-sized birds, ranging from 26 to 37 cm in length, and are easily identified by the scalloped appearance of their back feathers and unique cheek patches. Unlike many other parrots, they do not engage in mutual preening. Instead, their courtship is a simple affair involving tail-waving and head-bobbing. As cavity nesters, they rely on large, older trees to raise their young, with females handling the three-week incubation period while males provide food.
In captivity, these birds are popular for their striking colours and relative ease of breeding, often living for over 20 years. However, they are known for an aggressive temperament, which necessitates keeping them in separate enclosures from other birds. Their diet is primarily seed and fruit-based, both in the wild and in domestic settings, where they are often fed a variety of produce like grapes and leafy greens.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Rosella
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