Hybrid Crimson x Eastern Rosella

[Martin Butterfield <>]

I have looked at the GBS dataset to year 30.  There are 65097 records for Crimson Rosella, 46238 records for Easter Rosella and 69 records for the hybrid.  Of the 69 hybrid records all have Crimson Rosella in the same Year/week/site.  However 28 of the  Year/week/site "records" also have Eastern Rosellas, suggesting that Eastern Rosellas are usually in the area, if not actually hanging around with the hybrid.

I have read the species account in Forshaw "Australian Parrots" and it appears that in most cases a pair of Crimson Rosellas stay together. and both care for the offspring for at least a period of 3-4 weeks after fledging.  It wasn't clear if the same ex-nest care was provided by Easterns.  However one possible explanation of the relatively more common observation of hybrids with Easterns could be that the male parent of the hybrds tends to be an Eastern and the hybrid is then looked after by a pair of Crimsons including the promiscuous female.

Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

On Wed, 20 Nov 2019 at 13:29, Philip Veerman <> wrote:

I agree with you about the hybrid. I see no reason though to suppose (based on plumage - or anything else) that it indicates an aviary bred bird, rather than a wildling hybrid. These hybrids happen often enough from wild birds, to not evoke captive origin. Not saying it isn't, but (presumably) being a hybrid, then being captive bred or not would not change its appearance.

The other thing of interest is these hybrids seem to always associate with Crimson Rosellas, rather than Eastern Rosellas. I wonder how that happens and if we are missing something here.

Philip

-----Original Message-----
From: Con Boekel [
Sent: Wednesday, 20 November, 2019 11:22 AM
To: canberrabirds chatline
Subject: Hybrid Crimson x Eastern Rosella

This image was taken at the ANBG on 19 November 2019. The hybrid was moving in company with a single adult Crimson Rosella.

I assume that the plumage indicates an aviary bred bird rather than a wildling hybrid. But I am not sure about.

regards

Con



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