Scarlet rosella

["Philip Veerman" <>]

My reading of John's description is similar to several that I have seen, so not especially unusual (only if you look rather closely at them). I suspect it is an age thing that some of them have (probably intermediate stage before full adult but that is a guess). Of course the Crimson Rosella is a form of the same species that includes the mainly yellow Yellow Rosella and mainly orange Adelaide Rosella. There is always a possibility of some genetic input form one of them (certainly very likely in Deniliquin). 

 

The hybrid ones that Sandra mentions are I think quite different. You wouldn't normally identify them as Crimson Rosellas. They look far more like odd Easterns, except with more extensive red on the front and with blue or partly blue cheeks. 

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: sandra henderson [
Sent: Sunday, 21 July 2013 1:17 PM
To: Johnebuckley
Cc:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Scarlet rosella

I can recall seeing an orangey one near
Deniliquin a couple of years ago, which was a hybrid between Eastern and Yellow
(and on this morning's outing at the Majura Winery, Stuart pointed out a 
Crimson-Eastern hybrid, with pale blue cheek patch, Eastern-toned wings and
much smaller than the Crimsons it was hanging out with)

Sandra H

On Sunday, July 21, 2013, Johnebuckley wrote:

Dear All,
Is it unusual to see an orange-coloured rosella, rather than the normal crimson?
In Bega last weekend there was a young rosella in a flock of mixed adults and young, whose neck feathers were distinctly orange.  I'd be interested to know whether this is unusual, because if so, I will try to get a good photograph.
Cheers,
John Buckley

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