Adelaide Rosellas
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The Adelaide was also 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.
Diet: Rosellas are customarily fed seeds, fruits, vegetables, eggfood, greens, mealworms, nuts, dog chow, bread, and minerals.
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 January). During the incubation period she is fed by her mate. They nest in a wooden nest, high above the ground, filled with chips or turf.
The female lays 5 to 6 eggs that she incubates alone for about 21 days. During the incubation period she is fed by her mate.
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.
Description: Generally pale to strong orange-red; forehead, lores and crown orange-red; sides of head and nape orange-yellow; cheeks violet-blue; abdomen and breast yellow more or less strongly tinged orange-red; nape and back black, each feathers edged olive-yellow and partially suffused dull orange-red; lower back live-yellow becoming orange-yellow on upper tail-coverts and tinged orange-red; shoulder feathers grey-black and with broad orange-red edging; inner median wing-coverts black; bend of wing and outer median wing-coverts bright blue; secondary-coverts pale blue; secondaries, outer webs of base of primaries and under wing-coverts deep blue; upperside of middle tail-feathers dark violet-blue and with dark green base; outer tail feathers dark blue with bright blue edging and paler tips; tail underside pale bluish; bill horn-colored-grey; skin to narrow periophthalmic ring grey; iris dark brown; feet grey. Female on average smaller and often suffused more with orange; pale wing-stripe occasionally present; smaller and narrower bill. Orange-red plumage of adults olive-green in immatures except for forehead, crown, upper cheek area, throat, parts of upper breast, thighs and under tail-coverts; inner median wing-coverts and outer secondary-coverts dull olive-green; under wing-coverts dull blue; upperside of middle tail-feathers dark olive-green with blue-black tips; tail underside pale grey-blue; pale wing-stripe present; adult plumage attained by 16 months. 
Length: 35 cm (13.5 ins)
Distribution: South Australia
Species: Scientific: Platycercus adelaidae adelaidae ... English: Adelaide Parakeet, Adelaide Rosella, Pheasant Parrot ... Dutch: Adelaide Parkiet, Adelaide Rosella ... German: Adelaidesittich, Fasansittich ... French: Rosella Adelaide
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots
Sub-species:
- Paler Adelaide Rosellas: Please scroll up for additional information.
Species: Scientific: Platycercus adelaidae subadelaidae ... English: Paler Adelaide Rosella ... Dutch: Bleke Adelaide Rosella ... German: Blasser Adelaidesittich ... French: Rosella Adelaide de pâle
Description: As adelaidae, but with much less orange-red to breast and abdomen and virtually without orange-red wash to back feathers and upper tail-coverts. Female with same distinguishing features as nominate type. Length: 35 cm (13.5 ins)
Distribution: Southern Australia from Gladstone north to southern Flinder Ranges; both sub-species are separated by a 60 km (38 miles) zone.
Related Web Resources: Lexicon of Parrots (scroll down to no. 2 - click to view photo)
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