Western Rosella (Platycercus icterotis)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Western Rosella

Platycercus icterotis (Temminck & Kuhl, 1820)

25–30 cmLength63 gWeight

The western rosella (Platycercus icterotis), or moyadong, is a species of parrot endemic to southwestern Australia.

Busiest months: January–February, May and October · Most records: Australia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: January–February, May and October · Most records: Australia

Western Rosella has been recorded at 6 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Victoria Dam – Access road, track and picnic areaAustralia645 records
  2. Lake McLarty Nature ReserveAustralia4 records
  3. Bibra LakeAustralia2 records
More places
  1. North LakeAustralia1 record
  2. Alfred Cove Nature ReserveAustralia1 record
  3. Royal Botanic Gardens MelbourneAustralia1 record

Countries and regions with the most records

Australia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

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.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Western Rosella?

The Western Rosella is about 25–30 cm long and weighs around 63 g.

Where does the Western Rosella live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: southwestern Australia. It is most often recorded in Australia.

When is the best time to see the Western Rosella?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January, February, May and October (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Western Rosella endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Western Rosella as Least Concern.

What does the Western Rosella eat?

Main food: Seeds.

What family is the Western Rosella in?

It belongs to the family Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae), order Parrot (Psittaciformes).

At a glance

Length
25–30 cm
Weight
63 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Seeds
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
134 mm
Tail
140 mm
Bill
16 mm
Tarsus
16 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: southwestern Australia

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Parrot Psittaciformes
Family
Old World Parrots Psittaculidae
Genus
Platycercus

Other birds in the genus Platycercus

Green RosellaGreen RosellaPlatycercus caledonicusCrimson RosellaCrimson RosellaPlatycercus elegansNorthern RosellaNorthern RosellaPlatycercus venustusPale-headed RosellaPale-headed RosellaPlatycercus adscitusEastern RosellaEastern RosellaPlatycercus eximiusPesquet's ParrotPesquet's ParrotPsittrichas fulgidusGreater Vasa ParrotGreater Vasa ParrotCoracopsis vasaSeychelles Black ParrotSeychelles Black ParrotCoracopsis barklyiComoro Black ParrotComoro Black ParrotCoracopsis sibilansLesser Vasa ParrotLesser Vasa ParrotCoracopsis nigra
Western Rosella

Download illustration

Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by wacrakey. ↗

WebP · 1070 px

Heard it but can't see it? Mingji identifies birds by sound and photo, on your phone.

In other languages