Crimson rosella with juvenile, Victoria, Australia
© Naser Alhujailan/plainpicture/Minden Picture
Snack time for the crimson rosella
Everybody loves a little snack, and the cheerful rosella is no exception. The bird, which is native to Australia (but has been introduced to New Zealand and Norfolk Island) will happily feast on tree blossoms, berries and insects, but more commonly nibbles on seeds of eucalyptus, grasses and shrubs.
Make sure to pay close attention to its colour though, because there are actually three variations of rosellas. The star of today’s homepage is the crimson rosella, with a red plumage (the layer of feathers that mostly cover a bird) and bright blue cheeks. Then there is the ‘yellow rosella’, which has the areas of crimson replaced with a light yellow and greener tail, as well as the ‘Adelaide rosella’ which can range from yellow to a reddish-orange in colour.
If you do happen to spot one out in the wild, don’t be scared - the birds are relatively familiar with humans and are known to accept hand-held food.
Related Images
Red squirrels, Cairngorms National Park, Scottish Highlands
Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Victoria, Australia
A European goldfinch perched among rosehips in snow
Giant panda cub in Bifengxia Panda Base, Sichuan, China
Male Cape May warbler in spring
Male mountain bluebird in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Chestnut-eared aracari, Pantanal region, Brazil
Ravens, Alaska, USA
Bing Today Images
