Australian natives, Crimson Rosellas occur in northern Queensland, in southern Queensland down to south-eastern South Australia and on Kangaroo Island. They have been introduced to Norfolk Island and New Zealand. The habitat of this vibrant and swift bird is tall eucalypt and wet forests.
Crimson Rosellas are normally encountered in small flocks and are easily attracted to garden seed trays. Once familiar with humans, they will accept hand held food. Natural foods include seeds of eucalypts, grasses and shrubs, as well as insects and some tree blossoms.
The nest is a tree hollow, located high in a tree, and lined with wood shavings and dust. The female alone incubates the white eggs, but both sexes care for the young. The chicks remain dependent on their parents for a further 35 days after leaving the nest.
Crimson Rosellas are not only red, but can be yellow or orange. Yellow and red birds produce orange offspring.
Platycercus elegans has a range of calls, the commonest being a two-syllabled cussik-cussik: http://birdsinbackyards.net/images/audio/platycercus-elegans.mp3 It also has a range of harsh screeches and metallic whistles.
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