birding-aus

Re: birding-aus unusual rosella

To: Terrance Pacey <>,
Subject: Re: birding-aus unusual rosella
From: Brian Fleming <>
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 1999 22:44:58 +1100
Terrance Pacey wrote:
> 
> Help please.
> 
> Today I saw an unusual coloured rosella.  It was in the Lockyer Valley
> about
> 70 km west of Brisbane.  The habitat was typical Pale-headed Rosella
> and
> many had been seen during the morning.  A pair of rosellas flew from a
> hole
> in a tree.  They were only seen in flying fast between the trees and
> directly in the sun.  It was assumed that they were Pale-headeds as
> that is
> the only species in the area.  Another bird emerged from the hollow
> and sat
> quietly on a branch.  It was obviously immature.  However ....
> 
> This bird was a bright golden-yellow over the face, chest, belly, back
> and
> shoulders with pale grey markings.  The areas of wings and tail that
> are
> usually blue and/or green were brown and there was a black triangular
> patch
> beneath the chin.  No red or blue was visible.  I know that there have
> been
> breeders living within a reasonable distance of the area and feel that
> it
> could be the result of breeding between an escapee of some sort
> (Yellow
> Rosella?) and a wild bird but even that should not normally result in
> the
> poor mixed up bird I saw.
> 
> Has anyone any ideas?
> 
> Terry Pacey
> Toowoomba Qld
> 
> 
> 
> Sounds more like a lutino form of your local Pale-headed Rosella or (maybe) 
> of an Eastern Rosella. In a lutino yellow pigment predominates. Yellow 
> Rosella is certainly yellow but not really a bright golden-yellow, at any 
> rate those I photographed at Hattah and saw recently at Gunbower weren't - 
> also Yellow Rosella should have a small bit of red on frons above the bill. 
 Quite a few abnormal coloured birds do exist, and by no means all of
them are derived from cagebird hybrids. (Though I was once assured that
breeding imitation 'Paradise Parrots' and smuggling them to overseas
collectors is profitable).
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