# Eastern Rosella (*Platycercus eximius*) The Eastern Rosella is a colorful parrot with bright red, green, and yellow feathers. They love to eat seeds and can often be seen flying around in pairs or small groups. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Woodlands - **Also known as:** Rosella ![Eastern Rosella](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eastern_Rosella_%28Platycercus_eximius%29_in_tree-2c.jpg&width=800) Photo: derivative work: Snowmanradio ( talk ) Eastern_Rosella_(Platycercus_eximius)_in_tree.jpg : The original uploader was Mfunnell at English Wik, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eastern_Rosella_%28Platycercus_eximius%29_in_tree-2c.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Rosella has a striking bright red head and chest, contrasted by crisp white cheek patches. Its back and wings are a beautiful mix of yellow-green with black scalloping, leading to a blue tail. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Psittaciformes - **Family:** Psittacidae - **Genus:** Platycercus ## Interesting facts - Eastern Rosellas love to sunbathe, spreading their wings wide to soak up warmth! - Rosellas can sometimes be seen foraging on the ground, searching for fallen seeds. - Their vibrant feather colors are created by special light-reflecting structures! - They lay their eggs deep inside hollow tree trunks, safe from most predators. ## Special abilities - **Seed Cracker Beak:** Eastern Rosella has a powerful, hooked beak that helps them crack open tough seeds and nuts with ease. - **Climbing Paws:** Eastern Rosella can grip branches tightly because of their zygodactyl feet, allowing them to climb and hang upside down. - **Chirping Communicator:** Eastern Rosella has a range of bell-like calls that helps them communicate warnings and social messages to other rosellas. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-34 cm - **Wingspan:** 45-55 cm - **Weight:** 0.09-0.12 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 19-21 days - **Migration Distance:** 0 km ## Diet & Feeding These colorful birds mostly eat seeds, fruits, and flowers, using their strong beaks. - **Primary Foods:** Grass seeds, Eucalyptus seeds, Fruit, Blossoms - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Nankeen Kestrel (*Falco cenchroides*) — Preys on adult rosellas and their chicks. - **Eaten by:** Brown Goshawk (*Accipiter fasciatus*) — Hunts rosellas in open woodland areas. - **Eats:** Blue Gum (*Eucalyptus globulus*) — Feeds on seeds from its capsules and nests in hollows. - **Eats:** [Silver Wattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silver-wattle) (*Acacia dealbata*) — Consumes seeds from the pods. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Rosella? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern Rosella? 30-34 cm ### What is Eastern Rosella's wingspan? 45-55 cm ### How much does Eastern Rosella weigh? 0.09-0.12 kg ### How long does Eastern Rosella live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Eastern Rosella move? 55 km/h ### What does Eastern Rosella eat? These colorful birds mostly eat seeds, fruits, and flowers, using their strong beaks. ### Where is Eastern Rosella usually found? Woodlands ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Zabakuck](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-zabakuck) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Tropenhaus Bansin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tropenhaus-bansin) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Zoo - [Poppy Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/poppy-park) — Florida, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Eastern Rosella](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-rosella) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Eastern Rosella: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-rosella)