Colored Lorikeet

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Colored Lorikeet
Colored Lorikeet

Colored Lorikeet

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Parrots (Psittaciformes)
Family : True parrots (Psittacidae)
Subfamily : Loris (Loriinae)
Genre : Green Lorikeet ( Psitteuteles )
Type : Colored Lorikeet
Scientific name
Psitteuteles versicolor
( Lear , 1831)

The colored lory ( Psitteuteles versicolor ) is a species of parrot. It is traditionally placed in the Lori genus of the Green Lorikeet . However, this systematic classification is questioned. The ornithologist Joseph M. Forshaw , who specializes in Australian parrots, considers a classification in the genus of the wedge-tailed loris to be more appropriate. However, it was also proposed to classify them in a separate genus.

Buntloris are small Loris whose distribution is limited to Australia. Their plumage shows striking yellow feather shafts. No subspecies are distinguished. The females differ from the males in the color of the iris and the eye ring. Although they are relatively brightly colored Loris, they can hardly be made out in the well-shaded foliage.

Appearance

Buntloris reach a body length of 19 centimeters. They weigh between 49 and 62 grams.

The males of the blue lory have a red forehead, red reins and a red crown. The ear covers are yellowish. The rest of the head is gray-blue. The throat and front back are matt blue with yellowish-green shaft stripes. The upper breast is dull old pink and partially plays in a golden yellow. The feather shafts of the chest are yellowish. The under wing-coverts are yellowish-green. The rest of the underside of the body is pale green. The top of the body is bright green. Here, too, paler shaft stripes give the plumage a dashed appearance. The control feathers are broadly lined with yellow on the inside flags. In the male, the bare eye ring is white, the iris and beak are orange-red. The legs are bluish to gray.

The females are very much like the males. With them, however, the color of the head is a bit more dull and paler. The most striking difference is the iris, which is brown in the female. The bare eye ring is also beige-orange in color.

The flight of the blue lilac is quick and straightforward. They fly in flocks in tightly packed formations. The contact call, which can be heard almost continuously during flight, is a high-pitched screeching sound. Buntloris, which have settled in trees to feed, make high-pitched chattering noises. When they rest in the treetops during the time of the greatest heat of the day, this call changes to a softer, chirping sound.

distribution and habitat

Buntloris belong to the avifauna of Australia . Their distribution area extends from the Kimberley Division in Western Australia in the east to the northeast of Queensland. They have also been observed on a number of islands off the north coast of Australia. They have the northernmost range of all Australian lory species.

Buntloris are predominantly an inhabitant of the tropical lowlands. They occur wherever there are trees in bloom. Their population density is particularly high in the tree savannah. On the other hand, they are absent in the mangroves, where, for example, a subspecies of the Rainbow Lorikeet does occur. Buntloris also occur in the gallery forests along the watercourses through otherwise arid regions.

The population of blue lilies is generally very fluctuating, even if they are quite common birds. They are nomadic birds, whose migrations depend on the flowering time of the trees and bushes in their habitat. This leads to local migration, in which the number of individuals in the breeding area drops sharply. However, complete migration of the species from a region is very rare.

behavior

Common Lory usually live in family groups or small flocks. These can join together to form larger swarms if a larger number of flowering trees and shrubs are available in a region. A socialization with all-color loris also occurs. They are noticeably less shy than other Lori species and tolerate an approach of up to a few meters. Rain dissolves a particularly agile behavior in them. They climb through tufts of leaves that are soaked in rain. Drinking Loris climb on the ends of branches hanging above the water surface or look for an exposed second to a tree trunk floating in the water.

Reproduction

The courtship behavior of the Cunt Lorikeet is very limited. The males bow to the female and raise their plumage. The switch reacts to this advertising occasionally with a similar behavior.

Buntloris are cave breeders that breed predominantly in eucalyptus trees. They prefer trees that are near the water. At the bottom of the nest box there is usually only a wooden mole. But nests have also been found in which the eggs lay on eucalyptus leaves. The clutch usually comprises two to four eggs. This clutch size distinguishes the colored lory from both the wedge-tailed loris and the musk lory . Only the female breeds. The young hatch after a breeding period of 20 days. Both parent birds are involved in feeding the young birds. The young birds leave the breeding cave when they are around 40 days old. After a further three weeks they are self-employed.

Keeping in human care

Buntloris were kept as cage birds in Europe as early as the beginning of the 20th century. However, their posture was considered difficult. The world's first breeding was probably achieved in Great Britain in 1936. In Australia, the country of origin of the cortisol, however, breeding is only documented for 1949.

Outside of Australia, the Lory is probably no longer kept as an aviary bird. Australia only allows the export of native fauna in a few special cases, so that lorry keepers have no way of acquiring such birds. In Australia, on the other hand, the Lory is considered to be an attractive fosterling. Gender dimorphism makes it possible to put couples together very easily. Only the intolerance of birds can be a problem in breeding. A number of color varieties have now also been bred in Australia. This includes a cinnamon or dark yellow as well as a predominantly gray-green colored lory.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Forshaw, p. 269.
  2. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 145.
  3. ^ Forshaw, p. 269.
  4. ↑ Robiller, p. 60.
  5. ^ Forshaw, p. 273.
  6. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 147.
  7. ^ Forshaw, p. 370.
  8. ^ Forshaw, p. 270.
  9. ↑ Robiller, p. 61.
  10. ↑ Robiller, p. 60.
  11. ^ Forshaw, pp. 272 ​​and 273.
  12. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 157.
  13. ↑ Robiller, p. 61.
  14. ^ Forshaw, p. 274.
  15. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 146.
  16. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 155.
  17. ↑ Robiller, p. 62.
  18. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 161.

literature

Web links

Commons : Buntlori ( Psitteuteles versicolor )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files