2020 Conservation Week
Date posted: 12-Aug-2020
Meet the Takahē on Tiritiri Matangi Island
When: 1:30 pm, ..
AGM 2020
Date posted: 25-Jul-2020
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE TO WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2020 due to Covid restrictions at t..
Ferry Resuming July 4th!
Date posted: 01-Jun-2020
Great News!!!
We have confirmation Fuller360 ferry service to Tiritiri Matangi wi..
The 2020 Photo Competition Winners
Date posted: 22-May-2020
Here are the winning and commended photos from this year's competition. Congratulations to the photo..
Celebrate the Takahe Art Competition
Date posted: 08-Apr-2020
Hi Tiri Kids,
It’s Takahē Awareness Month!
Everyone loves our takah..
COVID-19 Important Information
Date posted: 25-Mar-2020
The government has announced that New Zealand is now at alert level 2 for COVID-19. Th..
2019 Winner Primary School Supporters of Tiritiri and Fullers 360 Science Award is Ethan Raymond
Date posted: 11-Mar-2020
Ethan has helped the Enviro-Warriors in many ways such as planning, gard..
2019 Winner Y8-Y13 NIWA Supporters of Tiritiri and Fullers 360 Science Award is Abby Haezelwood
Date posted: 11-Mar-2020
Abby Haezelwood with her winning Science Exhibit on Plastic Beaches at the NIWA Taihoro Nuk..
2020 Photo competition now open
Date posted: 15-Jan-2020
This year's photo competition is now open for entries.
Please click here (/m..
Eastern Rosella
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Scientific name: |
Platycercus eximius |
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Conservation status: |
Introduced and naturalised |
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Mainland status: |
Locally common in North Island. Small numbers in South Island |
| Size: | 32cm, 110g |
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Lifespan: |
Unknown |
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Breeding: |
October-January |
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Diet: |
Invertebrates, larvae, sandhoppers, and also some seeds |
This brightly coloured long-tailed parrot was introduced to New Zealand from Australia and is usually seen in pairs or small groups.
The head, upper breast and undertail is scarlet and the cheeks and beak are white; the back and underparts are yellowish green, mottled black on the back; the wings are blue and the tail is dark bluish green edged pale blue. They have a wide range of calls, the most often heard being a high melodic 'ping'. They also chatter when feeding and in flight.
Eastern rosellas eat a wide range of seeds, fruits, flowers, buds and shoots and occasional insects.
Breeding is between October and January. They usually nest in cavities in trees or dead tree fern trunks, laying 4–6 white eggs which the female incubates for 22–24 days. The chicks fledge at around 30 days and remain with their parents for several months.
They are often present in small but fluctuating numbers on Tiritiri Matangi.
Find out more about the eastern rosella at New Zealand Birds Online.
Photography by: Dr Kerry Rodgers ©
References: Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 2000 The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, Viking.