Animal-World > Pet Birds > Parakeet Types > Eastern Rosella

Eastern Rosella

Golden-mantled Rosella - Cecilia's Rosella Family: Psittacidae
Subfamily: Psittacinae
Tribe: Platycercini

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Platycercus eximius cecilae Photo 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.

"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.

   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.

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

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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Latest Comments
I am in an organization that cares for native animals and I was given 3 Eastern Rosellas, a week old, that were found. The mother was electricuted. I have cared for all other birds except Rosella's and I found they are such lovely birds to watch as well, and they can be very affectionate. Two have been released but I still have the other as it was the smallest and the slowest. They are very curious. I will be sorry to see him go as I don't like keeping them in a cage or a flight aviary as I think they are meant to be free! It is a joy to watch them. It's very calming for the mind. donna 2008-11-23
Yay. I said in my last comment that I would one day add the eastern rosella to my collection of parrots, and now I have. So now the hard part is trying to get them to breed. They are a very fascinating little birds and very flighty. I'll let you know how I go with breeding them, speak to you soon! lachlan mills 2008-11-20
I just purchased two Eastern Rosellas and let me tell you, they are gorgeous birds. I love the patterns these birds show on their backs. Hopefully these birds bring a different feel to my home as I already have a Male Blue & Gold Macaw, a Male Umbrella Cockatoo, A Male African Grey and a Male Indian Ringneck. If you ever get the chance to purchase these birds I recommend it. I love my new birds jose 2008-11-02
I lost my Rosella today. Rosy died on October 27, 2008. I'm not sure if it was old age or if I did something wrong. I did recently put her in with another Rosella and he was pecking at her last night. I didn't know it wasn't recommended to house them together. I thought I was doing her a favor. Don't house Rosellas together!!! R.I.P Rosy. I miss you. wayne 2008-10-27
I have a lovely golden mantle rosella named Roxburd, after my fave Aussie actor Richard Roxburgh! Rox is 3 1/2 years old and I have had him for 3 years. He is friendly with me but is definitely MY baby. He's shy with strangers. He sings a very pleasant song and is just so gorgeous to look at! BJ Owens 2008-07-08
Some of the coolest comments:
One year ago I bought my Eastern Rosella at a petshop, she was 3½ months old. And what can I say, she is perfect. Information on Rosellas are hard to find other than facts. It is important to hear about other peoples experiences to learn. Eastern Rosellas are said to be aggressive toward other parakeets. So it was with a knot in my stomach I introduced her to a lovebird 6 months ago. He has his own cage and I put it next to hers, so they could get to know each other. They became the best of friends, she being 3 times his size. She will bathe in her pool and he will be under her tail to get a good shower. A lovebird will quickly become tame, even when bought in a petshop and she has learned from him to be bolder. She sees him on my arm munching millet than she will want to come too. She is not noisy but playful, friendly, curious and never aggressive. It's very important to take her out of the cage everyday to flap her wings as long as possible. Try reading about birds body language which helped me to understand what she was telling me. Helle Helle 2008-11-10
I had purchased a female yellow mantle and find this bird to be absolutely prolific. She was approximately 1 year old at purchase. She used to "keek, keek" a lot..thought I would get her a mate, some how I thought she was calling for a mate and ever since I bought the male for her she has been somewhat quiet. I will always have these birds as one passes on I will acquire another. Also the female accepted the male immediately, and they mated in an active home environment. About everything the books said they would not do.....THEY DID! I also believe they are very acceptable to family life to be held and played with. The female I have was adaptable to just about everything....this may be unusual but I have had very good luck with the rosellas. They are now paired and breeding and as far as I know never fight. The female is attentive and loving both to her babies but ALSO to the MALE. r.j. kris 2005-03-30
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
i have loved birds since i was 7. i find them very fascinating, especially the golden manteled rosella. since i found your website i have wanted to buy one. i am sure i will one day. lachlan mills 2006-04-18
Just discovered your website and was happy to see that my Rosella is right on target. I was told in the beginning that they didn't make great pets and not to expect much; however, I have had her for 7 years and she mimics words such as, Come here, Hi Honey, and whistles Jingle Bells, Laurel & Hardy medley, and some others. We have found she gets irritated by my son-in-law's British accent...talk about screaming! Keep up the great website. Fran Tintelnot 2005-09-22
I've had my Rosella for 9 years now, she was a rescue. I loved reading about this bird, I really didn't know much about them. Most everything you've written has been true to my "Bella". I was really looking to see how long they live, as I don't really know how old she is but her head is almost all red now... and I only discovered I had a female when she layed a couple of eggs! She hasn't ever been around other birds tho. She is very timid but will take food from our hands and will sit on our shoulders but seems afraid. She doesn't talk but has learned to copy one whistle and seems to be learning another sound. She really is beautiful. She flys on occasion but when she lands on a pot shelf she doesn't know how to fly down. Anyway, thank you for all the great info. Linda M 2005-08-21

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