Colours
Distinguishing features
The tail of the Pale-headed Rosella makes up just under half its length. Its underparts are pale blue, and upper breast and head are pale cream-yellow, the tail which is blue-black and green and the vent which is blood red. The feathers of the nape, scapulars and back are black edged with bright yellow, giving rise to a scalloped appearance. In these margins of the northern race, the yellow is paler with a pale blue tinge. The cheeks are wholly white in the southern subspecies, and partly flushed with blue in the lowerparts in the northern subspecies. The bill is pale blue-white and the legs dark grey. The eyes are yellow-brown.
The sexes are similar in appearance, although the female is slightly smaller and duller. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Up to 33 cm (Length of specimen)
Wingspan
- Up to 53 cm
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Its preferred habitat is open forest, but has adapted well to human modification of the rural landscape and may even become a pest to orchards and cereal crops. Watering troughs help the species in the dryer western limits of its range. (Wikipedia)
Diet
It eats grass and tree seeds and fruits, including River Red-gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), River Sheoak (Casuarina cunninghamiana), Snow-in-summer (Melaleuca linariifolia) and other melaleucas, and Rough Cockleburr (Xanthium strumarium). They are also partial to the introduced Scotch Thistle (Onopordum acanthium). (Wikipedia)
