Crimson Rosella

The Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) is a parrot native to eastern and south eastern Australia which has been introduced to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. The fruit, seeds, nectar, berries, and nuts of a broad variety of plants, including those in the Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, and Rosaceae families, are foraged by crimson rosellas in trees, shrubs, and on the ground. Despite eating both fruits and seeds, rosellas are ineffective as seed dispersers for plants because they mutilate and obliterate the seeds as they consume them.

It is an Australian parrot of medium size, about 36 cm in length, most of which is the tail. In south-eastern populations, adults and juveniles typically have drastically contrasting coloration, with the juvenile's body plumage being predominately greenish-olive and being particularly noticeable on the nape and breast. As juveniles get older and change from green to red, they are referred to as "ripen". All races feature blue cheeks, black-scalloped blue-margined wings, a tail with a mostly blue and red hue, and blue cheeks. One of the satin bowerbird's favorite ornaments is the blue tail feather of the crimson rosella. The bill is pale grey and the iris dark brown.