Rosella observation

[Peter Cranston via Canberrabirds <>]

Thanks greatly to Philip and Richard - tricky  with images of hybrids on web likely to include misids. The immature bird is a constant and usually  sole companion at the feeder - is he grooming ??? We're likely to be watching the situation for months yet..   pete

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From: Canberrabirds <> on behalf of Philip Veerman <>
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2021 2:46 PM
To: 'COG bird list' <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Rosella observation

 

I agree with Richard, noting that this is referring to the photo attachment from Peter. Though they often show more red on the back than this one does. The earlier photo below it in the message from Robin is a different situation. That bird doesn’t look like a usual hybrid, so if that is the case and it is just a Crimson Rosella with a colour deficiency, as already suggested by Robin  it is interesting but likely not relevant to the discussion of hybrids.

 

Philip

 

From: Canberrabirds [ On Behalf Of Richard Allen via Canberrabirds
Sent: Tuesday, 31 August, 2021 1:29 PM
To: Peter Cranston
Cc:
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Rosella observation

 

Peter

Looks like a male eastern rosella hybrid (blue cheeks) on right. And young one looks indistinguishable from 1st immature Crimson (100%) Rosella. 

 

Regards 

Richard 

 

Sent from my iPhone

On 30 Aug 2021, at 8:06 pm, Peter Cranston via Canberrabirds <> wrote:



And this:   female hybrid on right is at least 3 years old, on left is the last season's offspring with male crimson partner. She is dominant at feeders otherwise all rosellas solely of crimsons  - the nearest easterns are 200 m away in rural paddocks/grasslands, and do not enter our dry sclerophyl around feeder.
Any views on % parentage of the female hybrid ?  75:25 is our guess. She is very symmetrical ! (and pretty) .
Pete

 

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From: Canberrabirds <> on behalf of Robin Eckermann via Canberrabirds <>
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2021 5:47 PM
To: <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Rosella observation

 

This one ...

<Qcem9d46k8SVvbv0.png>

... and its conventional partner have been regulars in my backyard for the past 3-4 years. However, the consensus seems to be that its exhibiting a form of leucism rather than being a Crimson/Eastern hybrid. When first noticed in March 2018, it appeared to be feeding what I assume to be its mate (or vice versa) ...

<1ji8dglPyQfESrZ0.png>

I have not noticed it feeding any young in the years it has been around - so don't know if its part of a breeding pair.

Regards ... Robin Eckermann
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On 30/08/2021 4:43 pm, Nick Payne via Canberrabirds wrote:

Yes, Crimson/Eastern Rosella hybrids are seen around here every so

often. Here's a photo I took about ten years ago near the Yarralumla

Nursery, of a Crimson/Eastern Rosella hybrid with a Crimson Rosella.

Does anyone know if the hybrids can reproduce, or are they the avian

equivalent of mules?

Nick Payne

On 30/08/2021 4:27 pm, Woo O'Reilly via Canberrabirds wrote:

Last week I was watching a Crimson Rosella and an immature Eastern

Rosella as they flew down to my frog pond in Giralang for a drink. As

they were sitting there, I saw the Crimson Rosella regurgitate some

food and feed the Eastern Rosella.

Is this a common observation? I'm aware of the cross

breeding between Eastern and Pale-headed further north but not between

these two. Maybe just sharing a meal with a friend?

Cheers - Woo

<3550_Hybrid_rosella_&_young.JPG>

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