Crimson Rosella

Description:

Platycercus elegans, commonly knows as the crimson rosella, is an Australian native parrot of the family Psittaculidae. There are seven subspecies, three of which are actually crimson. P. elegans elegans is the nominate race of Victoria and eastern New South Wales. There are several colour forms of the Crimson Rosella. The form it is named for has mostly crimson (red) plumage and bright blue cheeks. The feathers of the back and wing coverts are black broadly edged with red. The flight feathers of the wings have broad blue edges and the tail is blue above and pale blue below and on the outer feathers. Other colour variations occur in different locations and subspecies. Conservation status is Secure in states where the various subspecies are found.

Habitat:

Throughout its range, the crimson rosella is commonly associated with tall eucalypt and wetter forests. This bird was spotted in a suburban yard in the northern suburbs of Sydney, Australia. It was feeding on the seed pods of a liquidambar tree (Liquidambar styraciflua). When fruiting, it's a very popular tree with many parrot species! They leave a mighty mess behind too!

Notes:

I heard this bird long before I saw it, and raced off to get my camera. By the time I found the bird amongst the branches again, tried to focus and press the trigger, it flew off. One shot and one shot only is all I got, hence, not the best photo. C'est la vie! But nothing beats the experience of actually seeing the bird, great photo or not!