Plum-headed Parakeet

The Native Region of Plum-headed Parrots are Indian north to northeastern Pakistan, Sri Lanka , Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. It is a bird of forest areas and open woodland. They like high altitude and they can handle the cold. Populations undergo local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit and blossoms which make up its diet. Plum-headed parakeets are generally easy-going, playful, but fairly quiet. When they are not in the breeding season, plum-headed parakeets interact well with other birds of the same species. They become tame with regular handling and interaction. They make excellent pets, but don't talk.
These parrots are normally 33 cm in length, having life span averages 25 years.
They have a piercing eye with a yellow ring which dilates when excited. The male's head is red, becoming purple-blue on the back of the crown, nape and cheeks. There is a narrow black neck collar and a black chin stripe. There is a red shoulder patch and the rump and tail are bluish-green, the latter tipped white. The upper beak is orangish-yellow, and the lower beak is dark.
The female has a grey head, corn-yellow upper beak and lacks the black neck collar, chin stripe and red shoulder patch. Immature birds have a green head and both upper and lower beaks are yellowish. The different head color and the white tip to the tail distinguish this species from the similar Blossom-headed Parakeet .
Females attain the adult plumage at 15 months; young males attain full adult male plumage at about 30 months, normally they laid 4-5 eggs.

Slaty-headed Parakeets

The natural range of the Slaty-headed Parakeet extends from Himalayas; from eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan east through northern India and Nepal to Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh and northern Assam. They migrate down to the valleys for the winters, usually during the last week of October.

The slaty-headed parakeet are about 40 cm in length. Slatyheads are bigger than Plumheads. The hens are slightly smaller than the cock, the body approximately the same size as that of an Eastern Rosella.
A variety of mutations have been produced, including blue, olive, lutino & albino.
The original (natural) slaty-headed parakeet has a mostly green plumage. The head, however, is dark grey with a slight bluish hue, There are black stripes to the cheeks and a narrow band to nape, with an adjoining bluish-green band. There is a dark red patch to the wing-coverts. The under wing-coverts are greenish-blue. The middle tail-feathers are blue with a green base and yellow tips. The upper beak is red with a yellow tip. The lower beak is yellowish. The irises are whitish and the feet grey.
Females are either without or with a greatly reduced dark red patch to the wing-coverts.
Immatures have greenish head and brownish-green cheeks. There is a narrow green band to the nape. The upper and lower beaks are horn-colored with a brownish base to the lower beak. They attain their adult plumage when they are about 30 months old.

Indian Ringneck Parrots

The Indian Ringneck Parakeet has been a long time favorite for bird lovers!

They are classified as a parakeet having long tail and about 16" inches in length and up to 7 of these inches can be tail feather alone. The life span is about 25-30 years in wild.
Indian Ringnecks are native to Asia and Africa originated from India, Pakistan, Ceylon and Indonesia. They can be seen in the forests or arid environments. Wild Indian Ringnecks are green featuring a red beak. Beautiful blue, white, yellow and pied mutations have been bred in captivity.Males have a striking black ring with pink and pale blue outer rings while
Females lack the facial and collar bands although some have rings but they are generally very pale and hard to see. Immature birds lack the black ring, pink collar, or blue tint on the back of the head. Juveniles also have a coral pink beak with a pale tip. The young reach their adult plumage after their second full molt - at about 3 years of age.These birds are believed to cause major damage to crops; however, little evidence has been published to prove this accusation. Rose-Ringed Parrots can be seen in rural areas feeding from bird feeders or relaxing in parks.
The Ringneck is highly intelligent and does make a good pet. They can be taught to speak, whistle, perform tricks and mimic other sounds. They learn concepts quickly and love to show off. Along with being intelligent, they are great at talking.
Indian Ringnecks have stable personalities and can cope with minimal attention during busy times, this does not mean they are content alone however, and are great companions. These birds have a reputation of being difficult to keep.Many people believe that males are more friendly and learn to talk more readily than females, but there is no real truth behind these statements.

Alexandrine Parakeet

Large parrot with massive red bill giving "top heavy" appearance and only green-headed parrot with red"shoulder-patch", measuring 58 cm in length. The male's head is green with grey-blue cheeks and nape (lower back of the neck) . There is a broad black neck ring and broad pink nape band. There is a brownish-red shoulder patch and the tail is yellow-tipped bluish-green. The bill is yellow-tipped red. The female and young birds lack the black neck ring and pink nape band and are duller.

Alexandrine Parakeet is a gregarious and Noisey species, forming huge flocks at the evening roosts. Its flight is swift and direct, and the call is a loud scream, similar to, but deeper than Rose-ringed Parakeet, P. krameri.
Trapping pressure to cater to the demands of the pet trade have caused a drastic decline in this species. It is illegal to trade in Alexandrine Parakeets in India and yet these birds are sold in broad daylight in urban bird markets, suggesting that the Indian government is allocating insufficient resources towards the protection of this beautiful species.

The Alexandrine Parakeet is a resident breeder from eastern most Afghanistan,westyern Pakistan to Indochina and northern thailand also Sri Lanka and Andaman Islands. It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit, seeds and blossoms, which make up its diet. The Alexandrine Parakeet is a bird of forest, open woodland and cultivation.

Ringneck Parrots

Ringneck Parakeets are growing in popularity among aviculturists and pet lovers around the globe, and the Indian Ringneck is the most popular of them all among hobbyists. They are considered elegant and beautiful by fanciers. Like all Ringneck Parakeets the Indian Ringneck is easy to teach and tame. These beautiful birds are also quite hardy making them favorites for novice and expert hobbyists alike. In addition to the normal wild type there are an enormous number of color mutations among Indian Ringnecks, including lutino and blue.

White-eyed Conures

The White-eyed Conures are native to much of northern South America, except the western seaboard. It ranges from eastern Colombia to the Guianas and southwards as far as Argentina and Uruguay. This conure is endangered in its natural habitat.

White-Eyed Conures are medium-sized conures at about 12 to 13 inches (32 cm) in average length. They are mainly green, except for some red coloring on the edges of their wings and over the head. Their irises are orange.
In young birds the red feathers on the head and under the wings are absent.
The White-eyed Conures are amongst the better talkers of the conure family. Personality always varies from bird to bird, but they are generally known to be very playful and inquisitive. As is the case with most conure species, they can get loud at times. Some more often than others -- depending on personality and training.
They have big personalities for such small birds. Owners report that they are smart and interactive. They all require a committed owner who will work with their pets to guide their behavior, while cockatiels and budgies are "beginner birds."

Patagonian Conures

The Patagonian conure, is a large conure found in the Patagonia region of south-central Argentina and Chile. This conure is also known as the "burrowing parrot," due to its habit of nesting in holes in the ground. The Patagonian conure has exploded in popularity since the 1990s, leading to an increase in illegal importation which threatens the wild populations
The overall plumage is drab on the top and brighly colored underneath.
Patagonian conures are very playful and rarely remain still. They are true clowns that like to play, dance, climb and tumble for most of the day. Their considerable size, reasonable price, lively personality and good talking abilities makes them very desirable as pets. As other conures, Patagonians tend to be noisy.

Red-masked Conures

Red-masked Conures sport a beautiful green plumage that is paler and more yellowish on the underside. The whole head is red, except for for the back half of the cheeks. There is also red on the shoulders, underside of the wings and the thighs. The eye is yellow surrounded by a white eye ring. The beak is horn colored and the legs are grey.
Young Red-masked Conures have grey eyes and lack the red on the head.
These charming conures are popular pets and are loved for their clowny personality. They will take every opportunity to show off the tricks that they have learned. They are intelligent and affectionate, easy to tame and are good talkers.
On the down-side, they can be very noisy and people who are sensitive to noise will find it irritating. They also like to chew and need to be provided toys and natural branches to chew and "customize" to their liking. They do enjoy a variety of toys and a larger cage to accommodate all those toys is recommended.

Sun Conures

The approx. length of a Sun Conure is about 30 cm.The average weight for a Sun Conure is about 100 - 120 g. All Conures have the white skin patch around their eyes. Plumage of the Sun Conures are strikingly beautiful orange/yellow/red bird. The parrots have slightly green color on their wings. The younger birds are more green, and their brighter colors appear after several molts.
Both males and females look alike. However, according to some breeders, one can take a guess by looking at the shape of the bird's head. Females have a rounder and smaller head than the male. The male's head is squarer, with a flatter forehead. But the most satisfactory and recommended method for identifying the right sex is DNA sexing .
The Average life span of Sun Conure is about 25 to 30 years.
Sun Conures are noted for their loud squawking and is capable of mimicking humans but not as well other bigger species of parrots. These parrots are smart and interactive but also have behavioral problems which can be resolved by the commitment of owner.

Nanday Conures

The Nanday Conure is amongst the most commonly kept pet conure species in the United States and maybe worldwide.Nandays have a distinctive black head, and wings and tails tipped with dark blue feathers. They have a light-blue scarf of differing intensity, as well as bright orange feathers on their legs and around their vents.
Mature birds average 11-12 inches in length and weigh ~5.2 ounces.
The maturity of a Nanday can be told by the edges of its black hood: if the hood has a ragged edge of brown, then the bird is over a year old.
Males and females look generally alike. The gender cannot be visually verified. For breeding birds, DNA or surgical sexing is recommended.
Nandays are extremely intelligent birds. They have the habit of falling asleep on their back, feet straight up in the air, which can be rather disconcerting the first time observed. They are capable of learning tricks, mimicking sounds, and learning a small vocabulary.

Jenday conures

The Jenday conure is a very beautiful bird, distinguishing itself by its bright colors rivaled only by its cousin, the sun conure. In fact, Jendays look very similar to Sun Conure, except that the wings of the Jenday are almost all green, other than the primary flight feathers, which are blue. Please refer to the photo to the right as it shows both Jendays and Sun Conures side-by-side. The Sun Conure is to the right. Your can see that the Sun Conure's wings are yellow / orange (with green edging).
Jendays average 12 inches in length and weigh around 120 grams.
Jendays have a reputation of being nippy and noisy, but they are loved for their affectionate, sweet disposition. To maintain that trusting and friendly personality, they should be handled frequently.
These small parrots are highly intelligent, and can often learn several words and phrases, but are not known for their talking ability. Jendays often enjoy learning tricks.

Green-Cheeked Conures

The Greencheek Conure, or Green-cheeked Parakeet, is native to west-central and southern Mato Grosso, Brazil, through northern and the highlands of eastern Bolivia to northwestern Argentina. They prefer forest areas, where they form big flocks and can often be seen at treetop level. This conure is endangered in its natural habitat. In the wild, they eat various seeds and fruits and probably other kinds of vegetable matter.
The Green-cheeked Conure is primarily green, with a grey breast, dark head, maroon tail and blue flight feathers. Its average weight is about 70 g - but the general weight range of this species is between 60 to 80 grams. The average length (including tail) is 10 - 11 inches (25 -27 cm).
They reach maturity at 1 to 3 years -- the smaller Conures mature more quickly. In a safe, healthy environment, they can expect to live up to 35 to 40 years.

Conures Species

Blue-crowned Conures:

The Blue-crowned Conure (Aratinga acuticaudata) is endemic to South-western Mato Grosso, Brazil, lowland Eastern Bolivia, Uruguay, Buenos Aires and La Pampa in Argentina.
This conure has gained fame after being featured in "Paulie" - the story of a talking parrot and his adventures while trying to return to Marie - the little girl who raised him.
Blue-crowned Conures are quite large, generally growing to about fourteen and a half inches. Their wingspans are generally around seven and a half inches; and they weigh between 3 - 4.6 oz (84 - 130 grams).
Although the birds are primarily green, the crowns of their heads are blue. There are two shades of blue on a Blue-crowned Conure's head: a bright, darker blue and light, sky blue-tinged shade. Their green bodies offer a variety of green shades. They have the white eyepatch typical of Conures and their bills are usually bi-colored. The upper beak is horn-colored and the lower beak is usually black. The Conures with bi-colored bills are often called Sharp-Tailed Conures. The underside of a Blue-crowned Conure's tail is a variegated shade of red, ranging from pink-red to dark rust. This species is sexually dimorphic: male Blue-crowned Conures have larger white eyepatches than females, and the feathers of their ceres tend to be longer.
Expected lifespan ranges from 25 to 30 years .

CONURES

Conures are native to Central and South America. These parrots have variation in size. The Carolina Conure Parakeet is the extinct specie and is indigenous to the United States.They come in great range of colors. These Parakeets have greater tendency to adapt with weather, temperature and diet changes better than other species.The average length of Conure is about 12 inches.
They reach maturity at 1 to 3 years -- the smaller Conures mature more quickly. The average life span of a Conure is approx 10 to 20 years in wild and 20 to 30 years in captivity depending on the environment provided.
Conures have great sense of humor. With a little traning, they can easily be trained to do tricks. Most may learn to talk. Conures, in general, love to snuggle under things, so providing them with a tightly woven wash cloth, soft piece of fabric, or fuzzy toy will be appreciated.
Conures can be very noisy and are generally known for their cuddliness, if not Trained and socialized properly. They do enjoy learning new tricks and can be very entertaining. They love to dance and can also be taught to go the toilet with a simple command such as "toilet". Canures are well adaptors even in the presence of another species, they enjoy the company of both humans and other birds. Conures do require more time and effort than say a cocktail or budgie. Please keep this in mind. Owners report that they are smart and interactive, but are also more prone to behavioral problems than are cocktails or budgies - but this would be the case with any conure. They all require a committed owner who will work with their pets to guide their behavior, while cockatiels and budgies are "beginner birds."

In captivity always ensure that your Conure has a cage that is large enough to accommodate his active nature. While Conures are not large birds, they require a lot space to move around and play.Cage with measurements of 44"x26"x40" is ideal and should come with a secure door entrance. Conures are smart little critters and will easily figure out how to enter and exit a cage that does not securely close.

ROSELLA PICTURE GALLARY

GREEN ROSELLA \ TASMANIAN ROSELLA

The Green Rosella is Australia's largest rosella at an average length of 14.4 - 14.5 ins. or 36 - 37 cm (including tail), although it is only considered medium-sized when compared to the other parrot species.
The upperparts are dark, mottled green and black - in contrast with the yellow head, neck and underbody. When flying the bright yellow body is very obvious. There are distinct blue cheek patches, a red band across the forehead, and blue shoulder patches. It has a broad tail.
Females are smaller and slightly duller.
Juveniles are mainly green. Young birds attain the adult coloration after their second molt - when they are about 12 to 16 months old. At that time they also become sexually mature.
The similar, but smaller Eastern Rosella, the only other rosella in Tasmania and it has a mostly red head, neck and breast and a white cheek patch.
Their flight is strong and swift with only slight undulations

4. RUBINO ROSELLA

3. LUTINO ROSELLA

2. CINNAMON ROSELLA

1. OPALINE ROSELLA

GOLDEN-MANTLED ROSELLA MUTATIONS

There are a variety of beautiful Golden Mantle Rosella Mutations including Pastel, Opaline (Firey), Cinnamon and Lutino. These mutations can be combined to produce further mutations such as Cinnamon-Lutino or by far the most striking Rubino which is a combination of Opaline and Lutino. Triple mutations such as Cinnamon-Rubino are also now being established.

GOLDEN-MANTLED ROSELLA

In the normal form of the Golden Mantle red covers the nape of the neck and extends to the upper breast. The cheek patches are white. Black feathers edged with golden yellow cover the back producing a pearling effect while the wing converts and tail are a bright blue. A green suffusion can be seen on the rump, abdomen and tail.
Hens are often slightly duller in color.
Young birds attain the adult coloration after their second molt - when they are about 12 to 16 months old. At that time they also become sexually mature.
Golden Mantles are about 12 inches (30cm) long.
Sexing young birds can prove difficult and DNA sexing may be the only way to know for sure at a young age. However birds at least 9 months old can be visually sexed. In mature Golden Mantle hens of the normal form you can see a white striping under the wing feathers but this does not hold true when dealing with all the Golden Mantle mutations.

ADELAIDE ROSELLA

The Adelaide Rosella is endemic to South Australia. This was thought to be a separate species, but is presently believed to have originated through interbreeding of the Crimson and Yellow Rosellas. Both of these still interbreed with the Adelaide Rosella where its range crosses theirs, and it exhibits variation in its plumage from dark orange-red in the south of its distribution to a pale orange-yellow in the north. Variants that are very close to the Yellow race are designated subadelaidae.
Although the ranges of the Crimson and Yellow forms overlap along the entirety of the Murray River, in this area they seem to prefer different habitats and do not interbreed.
The Adelaide Rosella averages 13.5 - 14.4 inches or 35 - 36 cm in length.
The plumage is generally pale to strong orange-red. The forehead, lores (the region between the eye and bill on the side of a bird's head) and crown are orange-red. The sides of head and nape (lower back of the neck) are orange-yellow. The cheeks are violet-blue. The abdomen and breast are yellow more or less strongly tinged orange-red. The bend of wing and outer median wing-coverts are bright blue. The upperside of the middle tail-feathers are dark violet-blue and with dark green base. The outer tail feathers are dark blue with bright blue edging and paler tips. The tail underside is pale bluish.
The bill is horn-colored-grey. They have narrow grey eye rings and the irises are dark brown. The feet are grey.
Females are on average smaller and often suffused more with orange. The pale wing-stripe is occasionally present. They have smaller and narrower bills.
The orange-red plumage of adults are olive-green in immatures except for the forehead, crown, upper cheek area, throat, parts of upper breast, thighs and under tail-coverts. The inner median wing-coverts and outer secondary-coverts are dull olive-green. The under wing-coverts are dull blue. The upperside of middle tail-feathers are dark olive-green with blue-black tips. The tail underside is pale grey-blue. The pale wing-stripe is present.
Young birds attain the adult coloration after their second molt - when they are about 12 to 16 months old. At that time they also become sexually mature.

PALE-HEADED ROSELLA

The natural habitat of pale-headed rosella is southeast part of Australia , that is from York Peninsula to northern New South Wales . There are two subspecies of Pale-headed rosella, Platycercus Adscitus Palliceps and Platycercus Adscitus Odseitus, which lives in the York Peninsula . Both subspecies are similar to the pale-headed rosella by the color of the feathers, but they are smaller. In the wild these rosella nests From February to June. They live on eucalyptus and fruit trees and on the blossoms of the genus “melaleuce” trees.
Their favorite haunts are wide savannahs, were they forage for a variety of seeds and insects. However they are not unfamiliar with cultivated fruit plantations, sunflower and maize fields, which is a big problem for farmers. There are two mutations of pale-headed rosella, white and pastel.
Adult rosella are about 30cm long. They have yellowish white head, white crop and blue breasts. Tail is in the under part bright red in its root, while out sided tail feathers are black blue and green. Feathers on the back are similar to scales and colored in blue and black. The nape is dark yellow orange, the legs are grey and the claws are black. The beak is pale grey almost white with darker end. Adults, mature pale-headed rosella are almost identical, however female has less pronounced pattern, smaller head, and in the under part of the wings show a bold pale band. The sexes are easier to distinguish when the birds are still young, because in their early age males are bigger and have wider beaks.
About fifteen years ago, European aviculturists marked the Pale-headed rosella as a rare bird. Since than, this species became highly popular among parrot lovers and commonly bred parrot in many aviaries.
Their diet should consist of various seeds like sunflower, canary seed, proso, oat, hemp, sorghum, corn and bright seed. Vitamins and minerals should also be included in every day diet. They enjoy eating apples, carrots spinach, cucumber, leaves of dandelion, parsley sprigs with leaves etc.
When the mating period begins, the male starts feeding the female, and the female starts visiting the nest. Mating occurs in early morning hours or late in the evening. After the mating, female lays 3 to 6 white eggs sized around 22mm. The incubation lasts for about 22 to 24 days. Females of the Pale-headed Rosella like to lay eggs in deep nest box, because those kind of nests are grit shelters from boring males and can provide peace they need. Rosella can sometimes rear two broods in a year. Youngsters mature very slow, so the best time for them to leave the nest is 32 to 35 days after hatching , and still they stay with their parents for one more next month. After that they start their own lives independently. Color of the feathers is different in youngsters. Youngsters have olive-russet head feathers. Breasts, back and tail have mix of dull colors. They assume their adult coloration after 12 to 15 months, that is after the second molt. In the same time they become sexually mature.
Having in mind the size of 33 cm, Pale-headed Rosella needs adequate, roomy cage if it is kept as a pet. The cage should be in a non-draughty place. Its optimum time for adapting to the new environment, new faces and voices, is one month. It should be fed once a day with fresh food and a mix of the seeds mentioned above, enriched with vitamins and minerals. In the molting period that lasts from April to September, the bird must get Vitacraft's food for molting and granules of iodine. All rosella species have quiet and nice song, they are not loud. Number of words that they can learn to imitate is limited. One more thing, once your rosella gets out of the cage, soon she will be on your shoulder, head or table. This bird is very friendly and curious and needs company. Don't make sudden moves, be gentle with her and you will have loyal and devoting feathery friend for a very long time.

CRIMSON ROSELLA

The Crimson Rosella averages 26 - 36 cm (10.4 - 14 ins) in length (including tail). The wings are typically 164 - 188 mm (6.5 - 7.5 ins) long.

Adult male:

The plumage is generally red. The cheeks are violet-blue. The nape, back and parts of secondaries are black with a broad red edging. The inner median wing-coverts are black. The bend of the wing, outer median wing-coverts and secondary coverts are blue. The secondaries, outer webs of base of primaries and under wing-coverts are blue. The upperside of the middle tail feathers are dark blue with a black base. The outer tail feathers are dark blue with a lighter edging and pale tips. The tail underside is pale bluish. The bill is horn-grey and they have narrow grey eye rigns. The irises are dark brown and the feet are grey.

The female is on average smaller and has a narrower bill. Her plumage has a greenish tinge to the upperside of the middle tail-feathers.

Immature birds:

The red plumage that can be seen on the adults is olive-green in young birds, except for the forehead, crown, upper cheek area, throat, parts of the upper breast, thighs and under tail-coverts. The inner median wing-coverts and outer secondary-coverts are dull olive-green. The under wing-coverts are dull blue. The upperside of the middle tail-feathers are dark olive-green with blue-black tips. The tail underside is pale grey-blue. The pale under-wing stripe is present. Young birds attain the adult coloration after their second molt - when they are about 12 to 16 months old. At that time they also become sexually mature.
Adults and juveniles show strikingly different coloration in south-eastern populations, with predominantly golden-olive body plumage on the juvenile.

Diet:
A good Rosella diet should consist of canary seed, a mixture of millets, sunflower and safflower. Most people will use a Cockatiel seed mix with added Canary seed.

Breeding:
Rosellas are easy to breed; they are robust, do not fear cold but need a dry shelter. The breeding season usually starts in March or April (in Australia from September through March). When courting the male will bow forward low on the perch while sounding out the mating calls. If approved the hen will do the same and they can often be seen feeding each other before mating.
The female typically lays 3 to 7 eggs that she incubates alone for about 19 - 21 days. During the incubation period she is fed by her mate. Established pairs can be prolific and may produce two to three clutches per season - especially if their young are pulled for handfeeding and they have plenty of food available. However, typically they raise one to two clutches per year.During the incubation period she is fed by her mate. After hatching chicks will leave the nest at about 6 weeks old.
Some breeders prefer to pull babies at 2-3 weeks old for handfeeding. This will allow parents to get started on another clutch. Handfed Rosellas can still be a bit flighty and care should be taken to ensure the wings stay clipped to avoid injury. The young will need daily attention to remain tame.

Housing:
Rosellas do best in an aviary setting or long flight cages as they are avid flyers. It is recommended that couples are kept alone in an aviary, and to even avoid keeping two couples in two contiguous aviaries - as they may be aggressive and get distracted from breeding. If this separation is not possible given the space and resources that you have, it is recommended to have the walls double wired with a separation of about 3 inches (75mm) or even place a solid wall between the neighbors. You also need to have available aviary space for the young birds as they should be separated as soon as they are fully independent of their parents.
Rosellas like to chew on wood therefore metal frames with strong wire / mesh is recommended.

YELLOW ROSELLA

The yellow rosella is a very close relative of the crimson rosella. It is similar in size, makes similar sounds but has a much more restricted range in Australia. It occupies riparian habitats (particularly the Murray-Murrumbidgee river systems in southwestern New South Wales) in the interior of southeaster Australia. It is believed that the Adelaide rosella is a natural hybrid between the yellow rosella and the crimson rosella. This belief is based on the fact that the contact areas between yellow rosella and crimson rosella distributions are populated with Adelaide rosellas. In fact, many Adelaides sold in the US are produced by breeding a yellow rosella to a Crimson.
Yellow rosellas are one of the largest of the rosellas and can be fed a seed mixture that would normally be fed to something like a conure or Pionus. They are very aggressive and breeding pairs must be kept separate from other birds, especially other rosellas. Adult birds do not usually nest until they're second year. In southern California this species normally nests in May and June. They usually lay 4-6 eggs; one every other day until laying is complete. Eggs are incubated for about 20 days before hatching. I've never had a yellow rosella pair fledge more than one group of babies. However, if the first clutch of eggs is infertile (or you pull them to foster under another pair), the pair will often lay a second clutch. Yellow rosellas are one of the most difficult rosellas to breed, but once you put together a compatible pair they reliably produce year after year. Yellow rosellas are not as flighty as other rosella species, but they do not make good pets.

NORTHERN ROSELLA

The Northern rosella is commonly referred to as Brown's Rosella, in tribute to the man who first described the species in 1820 (Brown Kuhl). In Australia the Northern rosella is found in the very northern region from the Kimberley division of Western Australia to the Northern Territory-Queensland border. This species is also found among the larger offshore islands of this area. Northern rosellas are the smallest of the white-cheeked group of rosellas. The black and yellow coloration of this rosella is very striking and unusual, in my view it is the most beautiful of all the rosellas. This rosella is scarce in the wild and those who see it are lucky! They feed on seeds, fruit, berries, blossoms and insects.
This is the most difficult rosella to breed in captivity. Once a compatible pair is obtained they will often produce two and sometimes three clutches in a season. They have the unusual habit of breeding during the winter in the US (the Austral summer), often going to nest as early as December and as late as April. Adult birds do not usually nest until they're second year. Some aviculturists believe this species requires more protein than other rosellas and therefore offer them live mealworms. We really don't know if this is true, but we do feed our pairs a pelletized diet to insure good nutrition. Northern rosellas often produce more males than females, so females are very hard to find as singles (and will demand a higher price).

ROSELLA SPECIES

EASTERN ROSELLA\ COMMON ROSELLA

DESCRIPTION

12.2 inches (32cm). Bright red head, neck, shoulders and breast; not as brilliant in female. White cheek marks, in female dirty white. Yellow belly, greenish-yellow rump, green back edged in greenish-black. Tail green in centre, then blue, edged in white. Also white cheek and tail marks. Red feathers under the tail. Eyes brown, beak grey, legs dark brown. Im-matures achieve adult colouring 10 to 15 months after fledging.

NATURAL DISTRIBUTION

Eastern Rosella lives is Southeastern Australia and Tasmania; introduced to New Zealand.

HABITAT

Open grassy terrain spotted with trees and bushes, often near rivers. In large groups or pairs, follows civilization. Partial to ground, can damage cornfields and orchards.

DIET

Grass and weed seeds, wheat kernels, grain for large parrots, apples, carrots, green food.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Keep in pairs. Aviary at least 13 feet (4m) long. Provide bathing facilities. Tolerates frost.

CAGE LIFE

The Eastern Rosella has a loud voice, aggressive towards other birds. Excellent breeders and foster parents. Nests in tree hollows and rabbit burrows. Larvae of a moth species live in the nests and eat the faeces of the young. Lays 4 to 8 white eggs, incubation 20 to 22 days by female, male feeds young, fledging 33 to 35 days. Once independent, young should be separated from parents. Breeding possible after pair a year old.

ROSELLAS

Few birds in nature are as beautiful and colorful as the Rosellas. They are very popular with aviculturists because of their colors and their relative quietness.
Because of their strikingly colorful plumage, several species are widely kept as pets. A rosella is one of six species of colorful Australian parrots.

Rosellas are native to Australia and some nearby islands, where they inhabit forests, woodlands, farmlands, and suburban parks and gardens. They are confined to the coastal mountains and plains and are absent from the outback. Introduced populations have also established themselves in New Zealand and Norfolk Island.

Description:
Rosellas range in size from 25-38 cm (9.8-15 in) and adults are generally very colorful. Immature birds are typically duller, and attain the adult coloration after their second molt - when they are about 12 to 16 months old. At that time they also become sexually mature.

Diet:
A good Rosella diet should consist of canary seed, a mixture of millets, sunflower and safflower. Most people will use a Cockatiel seed mix with added Canary seed. They also enjoy fresh fruits & veggies such as apples, blackberries, oranges, cucumbers, sweet potato and mango. Kale, boiled egg can also be offered. I find that our Crimson Rosellas tend to appreciate fresh foods while the Golden Mantles will take bits and pieces leaving leftovers.
Sprouted or germinated seeds are usually more easily accepted by "seed addicts" than fresh fruits and vegetables.
Sprouted seeds are healthier as the sprouting changes and enhances the nutritional quality and value of seeds and grains. Sprouted seeds are lower in fat, as the process of sprouting utilizes the fat in the seed to start the growing process - thus reducing the fat stored in the seeds.
Sprouted seeds will help balance your bird’s diet by adding a nutritious supply of high in vegetable proteins, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and chlorophyll.
Soaked and germinated "oil" seeds, like niger and rape seeds, are rich in protein and carbohydrates; while "starch" seeds, such as canary and millets, are rich in carbohydrates, but lower in protein.
It is in invaluable food at all times; however, it is especially important for breeding or molting birds. Sprouted seeds also serve as a great rearing and weaning food as the softened shell is easier to break by chicks and gets them used to the texture of seeds.

Breeding:
Rosellas are easy to breed; they are robust, do not fear cold but need a dry shelter. The breeding season usually starts in March or April (in Australia from September through March). When courting the male will bow forward low on the perch while sounding out the mating calls. If approved the hen will do the same and they can often be seen feeding each other before mating.
The female typically lays 3 to 7 eggs that she incubates alone for about 19 - 21 days. During the incubation period she is fed by her mate. Established pairs can be prolific and may produce two to three clutches per season - especially if their young are pulled for handfeeding and they have plenty of food available. However, typically they raise one to two clutches per year.During the incubation period she is fed by her mate. After hatching chicks will leave the nest at about 6 weeks old.
Some breeders prefer to pull babies at 2-3 weeks old for handfeeding. This will allow parents to get started on another clutch. Handfed Rosellas can still be a bit flighty and care should be taken to ensure the wings stay clipped to avoid injury. The young will need daily attention to remain tame.

Housing:
Rosellas do best in an aviary setting or long flight cages as they are avid flyers. It is recommended that couples are kept alone in an aviary, and to even avoid keeping two couples in two contiguous aviaries - as they may be aggressive and get distracted from breeding. If this separation is not possible given the space and resources that you have, it is recommended to have the walls double wired with a separation of about 3 inches (75mm) or even place a solid wall between the neighbors. You also need to have available aviary space for the young birds as they should be separated as soon as they are fully independent of their parents.

Electus Picture Gallery

Female Electus Parrot

Male Electus Parrot

Eclectus Parrots

Strikingly beautiful birds, eclectus parrots live in lowland rainforests of Pacific islands such as New Guinea. These parrots are thought to have been introduced to some islands by forest-dwelling natives who kept them as pets.

HABITATS

Eclectus parrots are noisy, sociable birds that gather in large flocks of up to eighty. They fly very well and can climb trees with ease, using their beaks and feet to grip the branches.
The male is a stocky, medium-size bird with bright, glossy green feathers highlighted with red flashes on its sides and underneath its wings. The female is slightly smaller and has a bright red head, throat, and wings which contrast with her brilliant blue chest and purple under-wings.

Breeding
The eclectus parrot has no regular breeding season. During courtship, the male pursues one female and attempts to get her attention by making excited squawking calls. When the female is ready to mate, she selects a nest site in a hole high up in a tall tree trunk. The entrance is usually about three inches across. She chews up pieces of wood with which to line the nest and makes a soft bed for the eggs.

The female lays two eggs and incubates them without the help of the male. The male visits the nest at regular intervals during incubation and feeds the female with regurgitated food. The eggs hatch after 26 days, and the young fledge (grow feathers) and learn to fly at 12 weeks.
Food & Feeding
Like most other parrots, eclectus parrots are vegetarians. At sunrise, they leave their roosts in pairs or small groups and feed in the tops of tall trees. They eat a wide range of buds, blossoms, seeds, nuts, berries, fruit, and nectar.
When kept in captivity, eclectus parrots will eat large amounts of green vegetables in addition to fruit and nuts.
The birds are strong flyers and will travel far from their roosting sites in search of food. Large numbers will congregate on fruit-bearing trees.

Key Facts
Size
Length: 14 inches
Wingspan: Up to 28 inches
Weight: Up to 16 oz.

Breeding
Sexual maturity: 3 years
Number of broods: 1, possibly more.
Breeding season: Varies according to location and climate; may be almost continuous.
Eggs: White, 2 per clutch
Incubation period: 26 days
Fledging period: About 85 days

Lifestyle
Habit: Sociable, roosting in large groups of up to 80 birds
Diet: Treetop seeds, nuts, fruits, flowers, and leaves
Lifespan: Probably 40-50 years.

The Eclectus as Pet
Eclectus are remarkable birds and ideally suited as a pet. When taught properly, they are capable of cognitive behaviour from a very young age.
The ability of the Eclectus to communicate with humans is a result of their extremely inquisitive nature, a feature strongly linked to their life in the rainforest canopy. This habitat is a rich environment requiring a heightened visual and audible intellect to master.
The Eclectus has developed a complex breeding culture in this crowded vegetative habitat, resulting in communal breeding where uncles and aunties help rear young in a creche-like situation. This sharing and caring feature of the Eclectus makes them naturally the perfect pet.
When treated in a similarly caring and intelligent way they will quickly learn to communicate cognitively. Eclectus also prefer a calm environment and have a strong ability to notice changes within their normal surroundings.
These highly intelligent birds are very animated and love to participate in daily activities and in doing so, will quickly become acquainted with a daily routine. Eclectus can be kept with other parrot species although it is extremely important that any new bird is introduced in the correct fashion. This involves providing one on one attention with the original bird and as much as possible, maintaining its normal daily routine.
Regular and consistant traning form an integral part of the Eclectus development and with the correct love and attention, this highly intelligent bird makes an excellent pet.

Macaw's Photo Gallery