Birding

Northern Rosella

November 8, 2020 by Clare M 3 Comments

One of the birds that I failed to mention last week at Mary Pool rest area is the Northern Rosella. Northern Rosella are resident in the north of Australia, but not in large flocks. We rarely encounter more than one pair at any location. They are a species that can be well camouflaged despite their bright colours. If they are high up in foliage then you could easily miss out on observing them. Thankfully at Mary Pool rest area we encountered a pair on the ground feeding. We stopped where we were when we first encountered them and allowed them to continue feeding.

Northern Rosella feeding on the ground

Eventually the Northern Rosella moved up into the tree canopy nearby. From there the bright colours of their plumage became a lot more obvious. They then began to feed on the foliage in the trees. It never ceases to amaze us how such brightly coloured birds can blend into their environment and be easily overlooked.

Northern Rosella in the trees

If you happen to be in the north of Australia then keep your eyes out for Northern Rosella and remember they may be at your feet or way up high in the foliage. Either way they may not be immediately obvious!

There is another species of Rosella in the south east of Australia aptly called the Eastern Rosella. As you can imagine from this species it is an equally colourful bird!

Written by Clare M
Clare and her husband, Grant, have lived permanently in Broome, Western Australia since 1999 after living in various outback locations around Western Australia and Darwin. She has lived in the Middle East and the United States and traveled extensively in Europe. She monitors Pied Oystercatchers breeding along a 23km stretch of Broome's coastline by bicycle and on foot. She chooses not to participate in social media, but rather wander off into the bush for peace and tranquility. Thankfully she can write posts in advance and get away from technology!