Bird

CLASS: Aves
ORDER: Psittaciformes
FAMILY: Loridae

SIZE:
6.75 inches in height

RANGE:
The Moluccas, Kai and Aru Islands, through New Guinea and adjacent islands to Bismark Archipelago and Bougainville Island in the Solomon.

HABITAT:
Lowland forests and savannah

DIET:
Wild - Pollen, nectar and soft fruits
Zoo - Nectar of apple juice, honey, seeds fruit

DESCRIPTION:
Male -- general plumage green, yellowish on under parts; forehead and forecrown greenish-yellow; dark blue patch on rump; lores (area between eye and base of bill), cheeks and upper throat dull red; ear coverts violet blue; flanks and sides of breast red; yellow beneath tail yellow, lateral feathers marked with red and black; bill red; iris yellow or orange; legs orange.

Female -- forehead and forecrown green; red makings replaced by green; ear coverts dull bluish black streaked with yellow

Immatures -- like females, but males have some red on lores, greenish yellow on forehead

FACTS:
Small size and green coloration make it inconspicuous, so it may be more common than otherwise

Small flocks can be seen feeding in flowering or fling from one tree to the next; flight is swift and direct

In flight voice is shrill screech, while feeding it is more a shrill chattering

YOUNG:
2 - 3 eggs laid in fall and winter, little is known of the nesting habits

STATUS:
CITES App.II; common; not heavily collected for the pet trade as it does not do well in captivity

REFERENCE:
“Parrots of the World”, Joseph M. Forshaw, 1973