We don’t know how often this pairing happens or why. But there certainly are a regular scattering over time and place of hybrids between the two species around
Canberra with many comments about it (including me) and various photos (not me) posted to this email list over time. Whether it is due to accidental matings or whether the two species form stable pairs is unclear. I don’t think there has been a documented
complete case.... So it certainly does happen in the wild.
Philip
From: Terry Munro [
Sent: Wednesday, 13 January 2016 5:52 PM
To: COG Chatline
Subject: [canberrabirds] Rosellas
Over the past month a pair of rosellas have been visiting my bird bath here in Watson. The female is an Eastern & presumably the male is a Crimson. Initially I thought it may have been a random association but it is now quite regular.
This sort of pairing may happen in an aviary so one wonders why it happens in the wild.
