Platycercus elegans x eximius (hybrid)

Crimson x Eastern Rosella (hybrid) at Black Range, NSW

Platycercus elegans x eximius (hybrid) at Black Range, NSW - 30 Jul 2020 09:46 AM
Platycercus elegans x eximius (hybrid) at Black Range, NSW - 30 Jul 2020 09:46 AM
Platycercus elegans x eximius (hybrid) at Black Range, NSW - 30 Jul 2020 09:46 AM
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Identification history

Platycercus elegans x eximius 31 Jul 2020 JackieMiles
Platycercus elegans x eximius 31 Jul 2020 JackieMiles
Platycercus elegans 30 Jul 2020 AndrewMcCutcheon

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User's notes

At first, I thought I was photographing a Crimson Rosella in poor light under a dense pittosporum canopy. But when I looked at the image later, I was surprised to find this was a very unusual rosella, as it partially had markings and colours of an Eastern Rosella. This bird was in a pair with a normal Crimson Rosella and was the same size as it's partner, that is larger than an Eastern Rosella. I suspect this individual is a hybrid between the two rosella species.

4 comments

HarveyPerkins wrote:
   31 Jul 2020
Yes - this is a Crimson/Eastern Rosella hybrid. The white cheek patch with a suffusion of blue is generally one of the most reliable indicators, the plumage blending on the rest of the body can be a bit more variable, but this one looks fairly typical of a mid-way intermediate.
HarveyPerkins wrote:
   31 Jul 2020
This should probably be recorded as a hybrid, rather than either Crimson or Eastern Rosella, which would require a new taxonomic entry but the Project administration page is currently being redeveloped.
   31 Jul 2020
I agree that it should be recorded as a hybrid and not a Crimson Rosella, but for uploading purposes thought it was closer to being a Crimson Rosella, as this was the species it associated and paired with. I have only once recorded an Eastern Rosella on our block as our forest area is not the preferred habitat for that species.
   5 Aug 2020
To better show the colours of this hybrid rosella I have edited out some of the heavy shadows from the original images. It appears that the head and fore part of the body are more like a Crimson Rosella and the rear mostly Eastern Rosella with colours of a duller tone than typical for that species.

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