Eastern Rosella

Golden-mantled Rosella, Cecilia's Rosella

Family: Psittacidae Platycercus eximius cecilaePhoto Courtesy Andy Sennett

   The Eastern Rosella is one of the most popular and most beautiful parakeets in aviculture. Being so very brightly colored, they are very attractive birds!

   The Golden-mantled Rosella or Cecilia's Rosella is an active bird and a very skillful flyers. They love to play, climb, and chew. Though they are not great talkers they can be quite vocal. They are also very hardy, very resistant to disease, and are not difficult to feed and care for. Once they are established with an acceptable mate, they are easy to breed.    All the Rosellas, including the Golden-mantled Rosella or Cecilia's Rosella are very energetic. They are a more difficult bird to tame, requiring a lot of consistent firm training and close interaction. For this reason, they are not really considered to be a beginners bird.

   The nature of Rosellas is one of aggression toward other rosellas and other parakeets, as well as other parrot-like birds. It is not recommended to house them together unless as a breeding pair or to house them in adjoining aviaries or cages. They are so bickery they will even bite at the sides of the cage if next to each other.

"Dr. Jungle admires Betty Boop... posing from all angles!"
Photos courtesy: Andy Sennett

   "Betty Boop" is a rather young Golden-mantled Rosella or Cecilia's Rosella. This is apparent because of the green still showing on the hind part of the neck. A fully mature Eastern Rosella will have his whole crown red, including the back of the neck.

To learn more about Parakeets and their needs visit:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Parakeet

Scientific name: Platycercus eximius - Eastern Rosella
             

Sub-species: Platycercus e. ceciliae - Cecilia's or Golden-mantled
                                         Platycercus e. eximius - Red Rosella
                                         Platycercus e. diemenensis - (North)

Distribution:    The Eastern Rosella is found in southeastern Australia including Tasmania, and have been introduce to New Zealand. They originally inhabited the open savannas but today are found in areas cultivated with cereal crops and in pasture lands. They are also familiar birds in gardens and parks on the outskirts of towns and cities.

Description:    The Golden-mantled Rosella and the other two Eastern Rosellas belong in the Platycercus genus which contains six species. They are members of the parakeet family, usually grouped with Australian Parakeets. The word 'parakeet' means long tail and Rosellas have long tails! Rosellas are fairly easy to recognize by their pronounced cheek patches, strong mottling on their backs, unique and bright colors, and feathers that are scalloped.
   The Eastern Rosella has a red head and breast with a white cheek patch. The belly is a greenish yellow and the rump is a pale green. The back and wings are black edged with yellow. The outer wing and tail feathers and blue. The two sexes are very much alike, although the females often have less red on the head and breast. The females are often duller in color as well. juveniles are similar to the females and also have green on the the nape of the neck and crown.
   The Golden-mantled Rosella or Cecilia's Rosella can be distinguished by a bluish-green rump rather than pale green, and the red on their head and breast is a darker red.

Care and Feeding:    Fresh food and water must be provided daily.
   In the wild, Eastern Rosellas eat a variety of seeds and blossoms, berries and fruits, nuts, blossoms, leaf buds. They feed both in the treetops and on the ground. Their diet consists of a good seed mixture supplemented with sprouted seed, various fruits, and green foods. In addition to these foods, you can offer them vegetables and commercial pellets.
   They also enjoy the same nutritional foods humans eat, including cooked chicken. Cooked beans, rice, and grains are also enjoyed, but soft foods like these will spoil in about 4 hours. An occasional millet spray is a nice treat. The Golden-mantled Rosella should also be offered grit with charcoal.
   See About Parakeets: Care and Feeding for more detailed information.

Housing:    The Eastern Rosellas originally inhabited the open savannas but today are found in areas cultivated with cereal crops, in pasture lands, and even in orchards. They are also familiar birds in gardens and parks on the outskirts of towns and cities.
   A roomy cage is required, and time out of the cage for exercise and flying is very important for them. They will do very well in an aviary and are not as sensitive to varying temperatures as some parakeets.
   See About Parakeets: Housing for more extensive housing information.

Maintenance:    The basic cage care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes. Weekly you should wash all the perches and dirty toys, and the floor should be washed about every other week. A total hosing down and disinfecting of an aviary should be done yearly, replacing anything that needs to be freshened, such as old dishes, toys and perches.

Social Behaviors:    In the wild, these birds live in flocks in the winter,from 8 to 20 birds, though occasionally they will be seen in flocks of up to 100. In early spring the pair up and set up breeding territories and the males are quite quarrelsome.
   In captivity Eastern Rosellas are very aggressive toward other rosellas and parakeets, as well as other parrot-like birds. It is not recommended to house them together unless as a breeding pair. Do not even house them in adjoining aviaries or cages as they are so bickery, they will bite at the sides of their cage.

Handling/Training:    The Rosellas are a more difficult parakeet to train and will need a lot of patience, as well as a loving but consistently firm handling and close interaction. These birds are not really considered a beginner's bird.
   See About Parakeets: Handling and Training for detailed information.

Activities:    Golden-mantled Rosellas are very energetic birds! Besides flying, which is important for all parakeets, these birds love to chew! Be sure you provide them with lots of assorted toys and wood chews, perches and swings.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   All the rosella's are easily bred, and the Golden-mantled Rosella will usually breed twice a year. In the wild they build their nests in the hollows of trees or stumps. Each pair will need two nesting boxes to choose from.
   Once the nest box is selected the female will lay four to nine eggs, though usually five. The female broods the eggs. The young hatch in 18 - 20 days and will leave the nest in about 5 weeks. In the wild they will stay with their parents for several months unless there is another mating, but in captivity it is recommended that you remove the young about a month after they are on their own.
   As importation of these beautiful birds is prohibited by the Australian government, many believe that it is important that the species are kept from cross-breeding to insure their continuation. Even though the rosella's will easily cross-breed, and it has been noted that there are possibly hybrids in the wild, there will be no more pure species brought into this country.
   See About Parakeets: Breeding and Reproduction for more information.

Potential Problems:
   Though the Eastern Rosellas can have a loud call, are healthy, hardy birds. With a proper environment and a good balanced diet, they are very hardy and resistant to disease.
   If they are kept in an outdoor aviary, the Eastern Rosellas often acquire worms. This is because of their frequent contact with the ground where they like to pick up seed. You may need to talk to an avian veterinarian about a regular de-worming schedule.
   See About Parakeets: Potential Problems for more information.

Availability:    Golden-mantled Rosellas or Cecilia's Rosellas are available from time to time at pet stores or from breeders.

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elizabeth - 2019-09-30 I’m looking for a hand fed male eastern rosella for a pet. I live in northern Virginia. Please contact me. Reply

aggie whistler - 2018-12-14 this afternoon we have spotted an ?eastern rosella in the neighbours gutter in South Auckland NZ - didn't know they lived in NZ Reply

Jose Morales - 2016-07-03 i need a female golden rosella steve leach - 2017-04-23 i have two hens and am needing a male where are you located shirley correa - 2017-07-27 hello, I am looking for a Roasella parrot, does anyone ship to Stone Park ill? Reply

Denise Chambers - 2017-02-13 I was wondering if anyone has successfully bred and eastern Rosella (M) and a western Rosella (F) with any luck? Reply

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elizabeth - 2019-09-30 I’m looking for a hand fed male eastern rosella for a pet. I live in northern Virginia. Please contact me. Reply

Jose Morales - 2016-07-03 i need a female golden rosella steve leach - 2017-04-23 i have two hens and am needing a male where are you located shirley correa - 2017-07-27 hello, I am looking for a Roasella parrot, does anyone ship to Stone Park ill? Reply

ybaker1@hotmail.co.uk - 2013-05-11 I have for sale, due to ill health, my george and mildred, they are a breeding pair, and are ready to mate. Comes with a large cage, I am very reluctant to sell please email for details and pictures and I will get back to you as soon as possible thanks for viewing this comment. gordon - 2013-05-14 I am very sorry to hear you are ill. I would like to hear the details, pictures and costs. Please send when you are able. thanks and I will remember you tonight at bedtime. Keep an upper chin...Gordon clapp Clarice Brough - 2013-05-14 For those of you interested in helping to find a good home for this bird, the email for more information about this bird is From: 'ybaker1@hotmail.co.uk' tracy - 2017-01-28 Hope this finds you on a good day,I am very interested in giving a very good home. I just lost my Jett 4 days ago,hand raised him and spent 11 wonderful yes with him. He was well trained and spoke very well. I moved from Perth WA to Alice springs I had him flown up to be with me. Now I have a huge hole that needs mending,I spent a very very considerable amount of yrs giving time n love to my boy,I have so much to give to more. Hope to be considered,thank you. Tracy Cameron. Reply

Royce M Irwin - 2015-01-30 I am looking for a male Eastern Rosella Crimson or Red head with green scalloped back. Royce Lisa Hillman - 2015-05-06 Hi, I have an Eastern Rosella which was raised as an avairy bird but breeder sold to me as a pet because SHE wouldn't breed but after owning her for 6 years, I highly doubt Rosy is a SHE at all and is in fact a HE. Rosy is very vocal and like its cousin the budgie, She/he frequently masterbates on its perches. I haven't DNA tested Rosy but I'm positive this bird is a male Eastern Rosella. Rosy has a beautiful read head and scalloped back. This bird is lonely since losing its companion ( a female cinnamon cockatiel ) and though it is a good pet, avairy raised rosellas never really become hand tamed. I just think Rosy would be happiest having a mate and breeding. I live in Windsor, Ontario. Canada Cynthia Harvey - 2015-06-04 Hello, I have a young male that my son is offering for sale. I don't know much about birds yet I have been left to be the one to write up his ad. :) I have looked at several pictures and I believe he is the Eastern Rosella Crimson, but I can't be sure. I do have some pictures of him, if you are interested. He is a beautiful bird, and makes for good company. We often play whistling games back and forth until he goes on and on so long that he looses me. :) I am located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Jayme - 2015-07-26 Is anyone missing their bird in Windsor Ontario? If so please contact me asap - jayme_steve@hotmail.com. thank you Reply

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