Western Rosella

Taxobox
name = Western Rosella
status = LC
status_system = IUCN3.1

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Psittaciformes
familia = Psittacidae
genus = "Platycercus"
species = "P. icterotis"
binomial = "Platycercus icterotis"
binomial_authority = (Kuhl, 1820)

The Western Rosella "Platycercus icterotis", less commonly known as the Stanley Rosella, Earl of Derby's parakeet or Yellow-cheeked parakeet, is the smallest species of rosella and is found in the South West of Australia. [cite web
title =Platycercus / Barnardius - Rosellas
publisher =Avian Web
date =2006
url =http://www.avianweb.com/rosellas.htm
accessdate = 2007-02-08 ] in Eucalypt forests and timbered areas. Just under 30cm (or one foot) long; they are red from the head to the breast with white or beige-ish yellow cheeks and blue and green patterned wings with males being slightly larger and having a more vibrant yellow cheek colouring. Their bills are a grey 'horn' colour like most Australian parrots. [cite web
title =Platycercus icterotis (Kuhl 1820) - Western Rosella
publisher =Lexicon of parrots
date =
url =http://www.arndt-verlag.com/projekt/parse.cgi?Desc=E130.htm&Pic=130_1.jpg
accessdate = 2007-02-08 ]

Habitat, Breeding and Diet

Western Rosellas socialise in pairs but will often congregate in largish groups of twenty or so to forage when the season permits; their diet is herbivorous, consisting mostly of grass and seeds. They nest mostly in hollow tree trunks usually a meter or so deep and will favour hollows that have dust in the bottom (as may be created by insects boring out the tree or limb). The female incubates the eggs and leaves in the morning and afternoon to eat food found by the male. [cite web
title =Western Rosella
publisher =Birds in backyards
date =29 August 2006
url =http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=268
accessdate = 2007-02-08 ]

Domestic Rosellas

Western Rosellas make reasonable pets however they have a habit of being aggressive if kept with other pets. [cite web
title =Western Rosella?
publisher =Bird board
date =2005-09-11
url =http://www.birdboard.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14834
accessdate = 2007-02-08 ] They are largely sociable with humans and will whistle in return if whistled at.

Notes

References

*cite book|author=Lendon AH|year=1980|title=Australian Parrots in Field and Aviary |publisher=Angus & Robertson|id=ISBN 0-207-12424-8
*cite book|author=Simpson, Ken and Day, Nicolas|year=1996|title=Field Guide to the Birds of Australia|publisher=Viking|id=ISBN 0-670-86305-X