The pale-headed rosella was formally described in 1790 by the English ornithologist John Latham and given the binomial name Psittacus adscitus.

[6][7] There are two subspecies, the nominate adscitus (Cape York Peninsula) and the better known palliceps (eastern Queensland), known as the blue-cheeked rosella, that was depicted in 1832 by the English artist Edward Lear in his Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots.

Hybrids of the two taxa have been recorded where their ranges meet in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland.

The feathers of the nape, scapulars and back are black edged with bright yellow, giving rise to a scalloped appearance.

[13] The nominate subspecies adscitus is found from the Cape York Peninsula south through to Cardwell in central-northern Queensland.

Its preferred habitat is open forest, but has adapted well to human modification of the rural landscape and may even become a pest to orchards and cereal crops.

[16] The breeding season varies according to region, with southern birds nesting from September to December and northern ones later from February to June.

A clutch of five or six (although up to nine have been recorded) round, white and slightly shiny eggs, measuring 26 x 22 mm, is laid.