Habitat
Grassy tropical woodlands and clearings, usually near water. Paperbarks, acacia scrublands, hill country, timbered watercourses, mangroves, roadsides, crops and occasionally gardens.
Northern Rosella (Platycercus venustus) [XC477850]
by James Lambert from K10, Kakadu, West Arnhem Shire, Northern Territory, Australia (call)
Northern Rosella (Platycercus venustus) [XC789479]
by James Lambert from Muirhead, City of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia (call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
June - August, and after rain.
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Nest
In a hole of a tree.
Eggs (Guide)
2 - 4; lustreless or slightly glossy, white; rounded; about 25 x 21 mm. Incubation: about 19 days; by female.
Young
Fledge in about 7 weeks. Fed by both parents after fledging.
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) and Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus) and sometimes considered conspecific with both.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
venustus (Kuhl, 1820) - Kimberley Range to northern Territory/Queensland border.
hilli Mathews, 1910 - North-eastern western Australia and north-western northern Territory.
Similar Species
Male Hooded Parrot (Psephotellus dissimilis), which lacks the white cheek patch, and has turquoise underparts.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet