Crimson Rosella, Juvenile, Victoria, Australia

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The crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans) is a common and colorful parrot native to eastern and south eastern Australia. They are a medium-sized parrot at 36 cm (14 in) long, much of which is tail. There are seven subspecies, three of which are actually crimson. The red-colored types are generally known as crimson rosella, though there are many other colloquial names.

Adults and juveniles generally show strikingly different colouration in south-eastern populations, with predominantly greenish-olive body plumage on the juvenile, most persistent on the nape and breast. Juveniles are said to 'ripen' as they get older and turn from green to red. This process takes about 15 months.