The western rosella (Platycercus icterotis), or moyadong, is a species of parrot endemic to southwestern Australia. The head and underparts are bright red, and the back is mottled black; a yellow patch at the cheek distinguishes it from others of the genus Platycercus. Adults of the species exhibit sexual dimorphism with the females duller overall; juveniles lack the striking colours of mature birds and the characteristic patterning is not as easily distinguished. Their communication call is a softly delivered pink-pink sound, and much of their behaviour is comparatively unobtrusive. Their habitat is in eucalypt forests and woodlands, where they often remain unobserved until they appear to feed on seeds at nearby cleared areas.
Individuals form mating pairs and generally remain in one locality, although they will venture out to join small groups at plentiful sources of food. The western rosella is predominantly herbivorous, its diet consisting mostly of seeds of grasses and other plants, although nectar and insect larvae are sometimes eaten. The damage attributed to the species at introduced fruit and grain crops saw them declared as a pest and permitted by the state to be killed or captured. They are more placid and sociable than rosellas of other Australian regions from which they are geographically isolated and have become internationally popular as an aviary bird. Their history in aviculture begins with two 1830 lithographs of live specimens in England by Edward Lear. Successful breeding in captivity began there during the early 20th century.
The population is classified as two subspecies, representing an inland group residing in the agricultural district and another nearer the coast in kwongan, tall forest and a variety of woodlands. The abrupt intersection of these groups' range, delineated by country of lower rainfall between Albany and Geraldton, is a zone of hybridisation between the two subspecies Platycercus icterotis icterotis and P. icterotis xanthogenys. The classification of the species relationship to sister taxa of Platycercus is less complex, due to their ecological and geographic isolation, and they are allied to a subgenus Platycercus (Violania) .
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The westernrosella (Platycercus icterotis), or moyadong, is a species of parrot endemic to southwestern Australia. The head and underparts are bright...
others; the plumage of the westernrosella seen as a link to the latter genus. Early European settlers encountered the eastern rosella at Rose Hill, New South...
The northern rosella (Platycercus venustus), formerly known as Brown's rosella or the smutty rosella, is a species of parrot native to northern Australia...
The Western Suburbs Rosellas, Western Suburbs, Wests, The Rosellas are a Rugby league club based in the Newcastle, NSW region of Australia. It was a foundation...
The crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans) is a parrot native to eastern and south eastern Australia which has been introduced to New Zealand and Norfolk...
nuthatch WesternrosellaWestern sandpiper Western screech owl Western sirystes Western spindalis Western spinebill Western square-tailed drongo Western striolated...
and Company. ISBN 978-0-00-212022-7. BirdLife International. "Northern Rosella Platycercus venustus". IUCN Redlist for Birds. Retrieved 9 August 2016...
species of honeyeaters, white-breasted robins, red-eared fire tails, westernrosella and red-capped parrot. Migratory waterbirds that visit the park include...
woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with...
Australia Western Suburbs Red Devils, a rugby league team in Figtree, NSW Western Suburbs Rosellas, a rugby league team in Newcastle, NSW Western District...
This is a list of the wild birds found in Western Australia. The list includes introduced species, common vagrants, recently extinct species, extirpated...
Red-winged fairywren Carnaby's cockatoo Western bristlebird Western corella Western ground parrot WesternrosellaWestern shrike-tit (often regarded as a subspecies...
spurius), westernrosella (Platycercus icterotis), red-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii), Australian ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), western gerygone...
Caladenia rosella, commonly known as the rosella spider orchid is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It...
parrots, westernrosellas, rufous treecreepers, red-winged and blue-breasted fairywrens, purple-gaped honeyeaters, western spinebills, western thornbills...
involved in the pollination of the female plant. The birds include a westernrosella subspecies (moyadong, Platycercus icterotis icterotis) which eat the...
industry as they damage soft fruits such as grapes and apples. The eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius) has become naturalized in the North Island of New...
the park. Birdlife includes honeyeaters, wattlebirds, button quail, westernrosella and a variety of seabirds. Whales and seals can be seen from the cliffs...
Sione Finefeuiaki (born 2 November 1979) is a Tongan former professional rugby league footballer who last played in the Newcastle Rugby League competition...
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