Platycercus elegans x eximius (hybrid)
Crimson x Eastern Rosella (hybrid) at Black Range, NSW
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| Platycercus elegans | AndrewMcCutcheon | 30 Jul 2020 |
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User's notes
At first, I thought I was photographing a Crimson Rosella in poor light under a dense pittosporum canopy. But when I looked at the image later, I was surprised to find this was a very unusual rosella, as it partially had markings and colours of an Eastern Rosella. This bird was in a pair with a normal Crimson Rosella and was the same size as it's partner, that is larger than an Eastern Rosella. I suspect this individual is a hybrid between the two rosella species.
4 comments
31 Jul 2020
Yes - this is a Crimson/Eastern Rosella hybrid. The white cheek patch with a suffusion of blue is generally one of the most reliable indicators, the plumage blending on the rest of the body can be a bit more variable, but this one looks fairly typical of a mid-way intermediate.
31 Jul 2020
This should probably be recorded as a hybrid, rather than either Crimson or Eastern Rosella, which would require a new taxonomic entry but the Project administration page is currently being redeveloped.
31 Jul 2020
I agree that it should be recorded as a hybrid and not a Crimson Rosella, but for uploading purposes thought it was closer to being a Crimson Rosella, as this was the species it associated and paired with. I have only once recorded an Eastern Rosella on our block as our forest area is not the preferred habitat for that species.
5 Aug 2020
To better show the colours of this hybrid rosella I have edited out some of the heavy shadows from the original images. It appears that the head and fore part of the body are more like a Crimson Rosella and the rear mostly Eastern Rosella with colours of a duller tone than typical for that species.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.844828-36.734890
- Places Black Range, NSW
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- 30 Jul 2020 09:46 AM Recorded on
- AndrewMcCutcheon Recorded by
Collections
Species information
- Platycercus elegans x eximius (hybrid) Scientific name
- Crimson x Eastern Rosella (hybrid) Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Rare or uncommon native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 746.4m Recorded at altitude
Seasonal activity
-
Was this a nesting or breeding site?
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