Purple-naped Lory (Lorius domicella)

Purple-naped Lory

[order] PSITTACIFORMES | [family] Psittacidae | [latin] Lorius domicella | [authority] Linnaeus, 1758 | [UK] Purple-naped Lory | [FR] Lori des dames | [DE] Erzlori | [ES] Lori Damisela | [NL] Vrouwenlori | [copyright picture] Birdlife

Subspecies

Genus Species subspecies Region Range
Lorius domicella AU s Moluccas

Genus

Lorius is a genus of lorikeet in the parrot family Psittacidae. The genus contains six species that are distributed from the Moluccas in Indonesia through New Guinea to the Solomon Islands. They have characteristic red plumage with varying amounts of blue (and in some yellow and white), green wings, and in all but one species a black crown. The bills is orange and the feet are grey.

Physical charateristics

Spectacular, forest-dwelling parrot. Mainly red, with orange bill. Black cap shading to violet at rear, variable yellow band across upper breast. Purplish blue thighs. Largely green wings. Red, broad and rounded tail, tipped brownish-red. Similar spp. Red Lory Eos bornea and Blue-eared Lory E. semilarvata have longer, pointed slender tails, largely red wings and caps. Female Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus has large, black bill and purple patches on belly.

Listen to the sound of Purple-naped Lory

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PSITTACIFORMES/Psittacidae/sounds/Purple-naped Lory.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

recorded by George Wagner


wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 28 cm size max.: 30 cm
incubation min.: 22 days incubation max.: 26 days
fledging min.: 85 days fledging max.: 95 days
broods: 1   eggs min.: 1  
      eggs max.: 3  

Range

Australasia : South Moluccas. Endemic to the islands of Seram, Ambon, and perhaps also Haruku and Saparua (records from the last two islands come from the 1920s), South Maluku, Indonesia. It appears always to have been uncommon or rare, recent records deriving only from within Manusela National Park in central Seram, where it is scarce, and from the Wae Fufa catchment in the east, where it is fairly common on ridges between 900 and 1,050 m. It is probably distributed thinly throughout the island at appropriate altitudes. There are unconfirmed local reports that it still survives above Hila on mbon (in the 1990s). Historically at least, an apparently feral population also existed on the island of Buru. Lorius domicella is endemic to the islands of Seram, Ambon, and perhaps also Haruku and Saparua, South Maluku, Indonesia.

Habitat

It inhabits hill and submontane rainforest, sometimes preferring ridges, within a fairly restricted altitudinal range (between 300 and 1,100 m, but only common between 600 and 1,000 m). In one recent study it was not found in logged forest, suggesting intolerance of degradation. Local people reported the importance of Eucalyptus deglupta as both a food source (flowers) and nest-tree, and observations indeed suggested that the association may be important

Reproduction

No data, captured birds lay 2 eggs which are incubated for about 24 days; young fledge after 3 months,

Feeding habits

Feeds on pendant seeds of rattan and other plants.

Video Purple-naped Lory

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sONdLXtVwfg

copyright: Josep del Hoyo


Conservation

This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it has a small population, which is undergoing a continuing decline owing to trapping for trade.
This species is widely trapped and kept as a pet in large numbers in villages on Seram, where it is much admired for its melodious call and skillful mimicry. It is also traded externally, to Ambon at least (for which permits exist legalising trade of 300-600 parrots per week), and is a popular souvenir of Seram for visitors. Its apparent avoidance of logged forest indicates that habitat degradation, and certainly deforestation, poses a serious threat. Widespread commercial timber extraction, oil drilling and hydroelectric projects are thus further pressures within its range.
Purple-naped Lory status Vulnerable

Migration

It is thought to be largely sedentary.

Distribution map

Purple-naped Lory distribution range map

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