Rosellas are uniquely beautiful companion parrots due to their bright and vibrant plumage. Their colorful cheeks, quiet melodies, and independent nature set them apart from other pet birds.
If you want a medium-sized bird that isn’t clingy, a Rosella could be the right pet for you. Rosellas love to play and have comedic personalities but aren’t cuddly and affectionate birds.
Of course, Rosellas can bite if they feel scared or threatened. Since they’re naturally more defensive than some other species, you must show understanding and patience when taming a Rosella.
What Do Rosella Parrots Look Like?
Rosellas (Platycerus) are colorful, distinctive, and eye-catching parrots. The first thing you’ll notice about them is their cute cheek patches, as Rosellas have different colored cheeks to the rest of their face.
It’s not just their cheeks that are bright, but their whole bodies. Depending on the subspecies, Rosellas are a mix of bright yellow, crimson red, neon green, and deep purple.
These colors serve as camouflage in the wild. According to Taylor and Francis Online, originating from the Australian bush, brightly colored Rosellas perfectly blend into their natural surroundings.
Rosellas have long, flat tails (Platycerus means “flat tail”). This makes them look regal and elegant when they walk around, almost like mini peacocks.
All Rosellas are striking, but they all look slightly different. Also, the colors vary between subspecies.
Types of Rosella Parrot
The most common type kept as pets is the Eastern Rosella (or Golden Mantle).
Use the table (below) to learn more about the 6 most popular Rosellas:
| Type of Rosella | Description |
| Eastern Rosellas: | A striking red head and breast with bright white cheeks. The feathers are yellow, fading into green. |
| Western Rosellas: | A bright red head and breast, with yellow cheeks. The feathers are speckled blue and green. They’re the smallest of the Rosellas. |
| Crimson Rosellas: | Almost entirely red, with black and gray markings on the wings and cheeks. |
| Green Rosellas: | A bright yellow head and breast with blue cheeks. The back wings are a mixture of black and green. They’re the largest species of Rosella. |
| Pale-headed Rosellas: | The head and upper breast are cream, and the rest of the bird has hues of blue. |
| Northern Rosellas: | A black forehead, with white/blue cheeks. A pale, cream-colored breast with dark blue and black feathers on top. Its colors are more muted. |
Rosella Parrot Personality
To decide if a Rosella parrot is right, consider its personality relative to your home life and family.
Rosellas are shyer than other parrots. This means they’re less likely to become clingy or choose a favorite person. They can bond with several family members if they’re involved in meeting their care needs.
SomeRosellas enjoy engaging in fun and entertaining activities but aren’t as affectionate as lovebirds. Rosellas value personal space but will happily travel on your shoulder.
Rosellas have a melodious singing voice. They’re quieter than most parrots but chirp away when happy. Coupled with their beautiful colors and spiritful personality, many people find this uplifting.
Rosellas are unlikely to bite if you’re respectful of their boundaries. As they’re not large birds, a bite from a Rosella won’t cause any lasting harm in the way a bite from a macaw potentially could.
How Big Do Rosella Parrots Grow?
Rosellas are medium-sized parrots, but their size depends on the subspecies:
| Rosella Subspecies | Length |
| Western Rosella | 26cm (10.2 inches) |
| Northern Rosella | 28cm (11 inches) |
| Pale-headed Rosella | 30 cm (11.8 inches) |
| Eastern Rosella | 30 cm (11.8 inches) |
| Crimson Rosella | 36 cm (14.2 inches) |
| Green Rosella | 37 cm (14.6 inches) |
Are Rosella Parrots Loud?
A single Rosella won’t make much noise but will be most vocal at sunrise and sunset. Their chirps aren’t as loud as a cockatoo’s because they’re much smaller birds.
Can Rosella Parrots Talk?
One of the negatives of a pet Rosella parrot is that they don’t talk much (if at all). According to Science Direct, Rosellas are among the least likely parrots to learn and use English words.
Some Rosella parrots learn a small selection of words but prefer whistling songs. A Rosella parrot is a poor choice if you want a talking parrot with an extensive vocabulary.
Can You Tame a Rosella?
Rosellas have a reputation for being untamable, but is this true? Rosellas are less friendly than many companion parrots and can be shy and somewhat defensive.
All Rosellas have unique personalities, and some love to play and interact. Many Rosellas enjoy family life when treated and handled in a non-threatening way.
Keep these tips and advice in mind when taming a Rosella, particularly if it’s shy:
- Don’t stare the parrot directly in the eyes because this can be very threatening. Stand side-on or approach the parrot by walking backward.
- A Rosella will want to watch you from a distance before it feels comfortable interacting. Don’t force interaction but let the parrot observe you. It’ll show interest in almost everything you do.
- If you think a Rosella might be ready to interact, approach slowly with a snack treat. Extend your hand so the parrot can take the treat from you.
- If a parrot feels safe, extend your arm and invite it to step onto your hand. Avoid sudden movements, as this can be startling. If a parrot is unobliging, try again another day.
- Most Rosellas dislike being petted much but enjoy human interaction and play. A study by Nature found that Rosellas who play have more advanced cognitive abilities.
Rosellas are quite shy birds, so you’ll need patience and persistence to tame one.
Can You Train a Rosella?
Rosellas are trainable by using food as reinforcement. However, they may not be as easy to train as other parrots because they’re more reserved and prefer their space.
They’re also unlikely to learn many words. However, Rosellas are intelligent birds and can learn new things through engagement and play-related activities.
Rosellas are independent, reserved birds, meaning they’re less teachable than some bird species. However, if you persist with training, you can successfully teach them tricks.
How Long Do Rosella Parrots Live?
Rosellas can live for 15-30 years, reaching sexual maturity when relatively young. Captive birds live longer because their basic care needs are met, and they’re less vulnerable to predators.
Can You Breed Rosella Parrots?
Rosellas are attractive to breeders because they reproduce readily without complications. The average female Rosella parrot will lay a clutch of 5-9 eggs once or twice annually.
Female Rosellas reach sexuality maturity after about 18 months, while males mature after 2-3 years. As a point of comparison, some macaws don’t reach sexual maturity until 3-5 years old.
According to Research Gate, Rosella parrots prefer exclusive pair bonds, meaning they often remain with the same mate throughout their 15 to 30-year lifespan.
However, it was found that 30% of wild Rosellas mated with a second partner when necessary, suggesting that Rosellas can adapt their mating behavior to maintain the species.
Can Rosellas Live with Other Parrots?
When properly introduced to each other, a pair of Rosellas can be housed together. Of course, not all birds get along well, so the situation has to be monitored, especially early in the relationship.
If you’re breeding Rosellas, keep them in separate cages. Avoid putting breeding pairs in cages near each other due to the risk of aggressive behavior and stress.
What Birds Can Live with Rosellas?
Mixing different species should be avoided. According to Exotic Direct, mixing Rosellas with ringneck parrots can cause them to combine and become aggressive toward the other species.
How Much Do Rosella Parrots Cost?
You can buy a Rosella parrot for $300-600. Younger birds in excellent health with vibrant colors and interesting markings fetch the highest prices.
However, you must also consider the initial costs (cage, food/water bowls, toys, perches, etc.) and ongoing monthly expenses (food, supplements, cage liners, vet bills, etc.)
Are Rosellas Good Pets?
Rosellas have many desirable qualities that make them good pets, especially for those who live near others. For example, Rosella birds are ideal for people living in apartments.
They’re strikingly beautiful, reasonably quiet, and fun-loving. They’re also relatively self-sufficient as far as parrots go, so you likely won’t have to deal with a clingy Rosella.
That said, if you want a parrot that’s cuddly, friendly, and talkative, a Rosella isn’t the best choice.
Although reserved, Rosellas love to play, so you must provide a stimulating yet non-threatening home environment. Though not for everyone, Rosellas can make a good pet parrot.
