Pale-headed Rosella
Platycercus adscitus
Silhouette: Farelli (photo), John E. McCormack, Michael G. Harvey, Brant C. Faircloth, Nicholas G. Crawford, Travis C. Glenn, Robb T. Brumfield & T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPsittaciformes (Parrots)
- FamilyPsittacidae (New World and African Parrots)
- GenusPlatycercus (Rosellas)
- SpeciesPlatycercus adscitus (Pale-headed Rosella)
About the Pale-headed Rosella
The pale-headed rosella (Platycercus adscitus), is a broad-tailed parrot of the genus Platycercus native to northeastern Australia. It is a moderate-size parrot with a pale yellow head, predominantly white cheeks, scalloped black and gold back and pale blue underparts. Two subspecies are recognised, although some authorities consider it to be conspecific with the eastern rosella of southeastern Australia.
Found in open woodland, it feeds on seeds and fruit. As with other rosellas, the pale-headed rosella nests in hollows of large trees. It readily adapts to aviculture and is sold as a cagebird. The pale-headed rosella was formally described in 1790 by the English ornithologist John Latham and given the binomial name Psittacus adscitus. The specific epithet is from Latin asciscere meaning "to approve". Latham did not specify a locality but in 1912 Gregory Mathews designated the locality as Cooktown, Queensland in northeast Australia. The pale-headed rosella is now placed in the genus Platycercus that was introduced in 1925 by Nicholas Aylward Vigors.
There are two subspecies, the nominate adscitus (Cape York Peninsula) and the better known palliceps (eastern Queensland... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Pale-headed Rosella in Springbrook National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Springbrook National Park
Crimson Rosella
Platycercus elegans
Eastern Rosella
Platycercus eximius
Coconut Lorikeet
Trichoglossus haematodus
Australian King-Parrot
Alisterus scapularis
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Cacatua galerita
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Galah
Eolophus roseicapilla
Little Corella
Cacatua sanguinea
Glossy Black-Cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus lathami
Long-billed Corella
Cacatua tenuirostris
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Pale-headed Rosella in Springbrook National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Pale-headed Rosella sighting in Springbrook National Park, based on 31 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Pale-headed Rosella in Springbrook National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Pale-headed Rosella in Springbrook National Park in our monthly data.