Iris Lorikeet
| Iris Lorikeet | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Iris Lorikeet ( Psitteuteles iris ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Psitteuteles iris | ||||||||||||
| ( Temminck , 1835) |
The Iris Lorikeet ( Psitteuteles iris ) is a parrot species from the genus of the Green Loris ( Psitteuteles ) within the subfamily of the Loris . It occurs in three subspecies on the Lesser Sunda Islands of Timor and Wetar .
features
The Iris Lorikeet reaches a length of 20 centimeters (nominate form) to 22 centimeters (Wetar subspecies). The wing length of the nominate form is 112 to 120 mm, of the ruby-capped iris lory ( Psitteuteles iris rubripileum ) 110 to 121 mm and of the wetar iris lory ( Psitteuteles iris wetterensis ) 121 to 132 mm. In the nominate form, the plumage is generally green. The forehead, the front skull and the stripe above the eyes are orange-red. The narrow stripe turns into a reddish-purple color and extends over the ear covers. The gray-blue back of the head is interspersed with green. A yellow ribbon runs across the neck. Chest and belly, under wing and under tail feathers are greenish-yellow. The breast feathers have greenish hems. The top of the tail is green, the underside of the tail is olive yellow. A dark gray eye ring runs around the iris. The beak is orange-red with a yellow tip. The female looks similar to the male, but the front skull is interspersed with green and the cheeks are more yellowish green. The immature birds are similar to the females, but the youthful plumage is more blunt and only a narrow red band can be seen on the front of the head. The base of the beak is dark, the iris is brown. In the ruby cap iris lory, the front skull and the hood are red. The back of the head is interspersed with green. The ear covers are purple-blue and, in contrast to the nominate form, the greenish-blue border underneath is usually missing. In the Wetar Iris Lorikeet, the hood is interspersed with red and strong violet blue. The ear covers are purple blue. The cheeks are darker green.
distribution
The nominate form occurs in West Timor , the Ruby-capped Iris Lorikeet in East Timor and the Wetar Iris Lorikeet on Wetar Island .
habitat
The Iris Lorikeet inhabited monsoon forests with secondary vegetation and the open eucalyptus - savannah at altitudes up to 1,500 meters.
Way of life
The Iris Lorikeet is an inconspicuous bird that can be observed in flocks of four to ten birds. It is usually only noticeable through its loud call, which consists of high, shrill tones. A chirping can be heard while searching for food. Its flight is nimble and slightly undulating. He prefers tall trees. Its diet consists of nectar, flowers, fruits, pollen and insects. Little is known about its reproductive behavior in nature. The eggs measure 23.5 × 19.5 mm. In human care, the clutch consists of two eggs. The breeding season lasts 23 days and the rearing period 52 to 55 days. The young birds are fed by their parents three to four weeks after they leave the nest box.
status
The Iris Lorikeet is on the IUCN's early warning list. It is only frequent locally, but no inventory figures are available. The main threats come from being caught for the cage trade and from habitat loss. It is listed in Appendix II of the Washington Convention on Species Protection .
literature
- J. Del Hoyo, A. Elliot, J. Sargatal (Eds.) (1997): Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos . Lynx Edicions, ISBN 84-87334-22-9
- Joseph M. Forshaw : Parrots of the World; an Identification Guide , Illustrated by Frank Knight, Princeton University Press, 2006, ISBN 0691092516 .
Web links
- BirdLife International: Species Factsheet - Psitteuteles iris
- Psitteuteles iris inthe IUCN Red List of Endangered Species 2017.3. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2018.