Scale Lorikeet

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Scale Lorikeet
Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus -Australia-8a-3c.jpg

Scaled Lorikeet ( Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Parrots (Psittaciformes)
Family : True parrots (Psittacidae)
Subfamily : Loris (Loriinae)
Genre : Wedge-tailed Lorikeet ( Trichoglossus )
Type : Scale Lorikeet
Scientific name
Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
( Kuhl , 1820)
Scaled Lorikeet, young bird

The Scaled Lorikeet ( Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus ) is a species of the parrot family that belongs to the avifauna of Australia . The Schuppenlori is one of the so-called wedge - tailed Loris, a genus of small to medium-sized Loris. The stocks are stable, so the scaly lory is not considered threatened. Despite its very large Australian range, no subspecies are described.

In human care, scaly lorises are relatively seldom cared for. Lori holders usually prefer the more colorful representatives of the Lori subfamily.

Appearance

Scale Loris reach a body size of 23 centimeters and weigh 71 to 97 grams. This makes them the smallest of the wedge-tailed loris. Like all wedge-tailed loris, they do not show any conspicuous sexual dimorphism .

The basic color of the plumage is a deep green. The top of the head and the sides of the head have a slight tinge of blue. The feathers on the underside of the body, as well as the neck and upper front back, are yellow with a wide green border. This creates the high-contrast scale drawing that gave this species its name. The flanks, thighs and under tail-coverts are spotted yellow. The under wing-coverts and a broad band on the underside of the wing feathers are orange-red.

The beak is red. The iris is orange-yellow. Scale Loris have a bare, light gray eye ring. The legs are gray-brown.

Young birds are very similar to the adult birds. However, they have significantly fewer yellow feathers on the neck, the upper front back and the underside of the body. The eye ring is still light and looks pale gray to whitish. The beak is dark brown and brightens yellow-orange towards the tip. The iris is brown. The legs look light brown.

The flight of the scaly loris is direct and quick. The monochrome green head and the bright orange-red undersides of the wings make them easy to distinguish from other species of lory. The call of the Loris is screeching and loud. Their calls are generally higher than those of the all-color loris. The contact and courtship calls, on the other hand, are identical to the Rainbow Lorikeet.

Distribution area

Scale loris are found exclusively in Australia. Their distribution area extends in northeast Australia from about 15 degrees south of latitude to New South Wales . They also colonize coastal islands in this region and occur, for example, on Fraser Island. They are introduced in the region around Melbourne and occur there as far as the Bellarine Peninsula and the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. They were first observed here in the late 1960s and have now become fully established in this region.

Since shed loris, like all lori species, rely on flowering trees, local migrations occur. Scaled Lorikeets only rarely withdraw completely from an area. Usually only the number of individuals decreases. Due to the numerous ornamental plants, urban habitats usually offer sufficient food reserves all year round. Populations in urban areas therefore tend to be sedentary.

habitat

Scaled Lorikeets occur mainly in the lowlands. They colonize all living spaces including urban habitats such as city parks and gardens and also use agricultural land. In New South Wales, their preferred habitat is the tree savannah and the coastal shrub heather. They also colonize dry and moist hard-leaf forests . Their distribution area overlaps in many areas with that of the Rainbow Lorikeet , another species from the genus of the wedge-tailed Lorikeet . However, the rainbow lorikeet is the more common lory species in almost all areas.

Behavior and food

Scale Lorikeet
Scale Lorikeet

The way of life of the scaly loris is very similar to that of the all-color loris. Scaled Loris usually live in pairs or flocks together. Occasionally they are in swarms with other species of Lori such as the Rainbow Lorikeet. As a rule, however, the flock only consists of birds of one species. The average flock size is 4.4 birds. Swarms of twenty individuals are already an exception. Only a larger supply of a food resource can lead to a larger number of scaled lorises gathering in one place.

Like all Loris, shed loris eat pollen, nectar and soft fruits. There are also buds, seeds and insects and their larvae. The flowers of eucalyptus trees , banksias , grevilleas and xanthorrhoea are essential sources of nutrition . In Sydney and Newcastle , Scaled Lorikeets regularly seek out flowering coral trees, which are often planted as ornamental plants along streets.

Reproduction

Scale Loris are cave breeders. They usually breed at a considerable height in eucalyptus trees. The nest cavity is prepared by gnawing rotting wood from the inner walls of the cavity. Both parent birds are involved in this preparation for breeding. The bottom of the nest hole is covered with wooden mulch. The clutch usually consists of two, less often three eggs. It only breeds the female. The breeding season is 23 days. The fledglings fledge at around seven weeks of age. Two to three weeks later they are self-employed.

Keeping in human care

Scaled Lorikeets kept in human care were first reported in 1877. They were exported to Great Britain for the first time in 1883 and were bred there shortly afterwards. The Berlin Zoo succeeded in breeding the first offspring in Germany in 1890. The first recorded offspring in Australia, on the other hand, only succeeded in 1935.

Today, scaled lorises are occasionally kept in large aviaries. They are suitable for swarming. In zoos they are occasionally found in association with the Rainbow Lorikeet. There are now several color varieties in the shed loris kept in captivity. The cultivated colors include those with red feather hems and those with cinnamon-colored wing covers.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 117.
  2. ^ Forshaw, p. 262.
  3. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 117.
  4. ↑ Robiller, p. 56.
  5. ^ Forshaw, p. 262.
  6. ↑ Robiller, p. 56.
  7. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 120.
  8. ^ Forshaw, p. 265.
  9. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 120.
  10. ^ Forshaw, p. 265.
  11. ^ Forshaw, p. 264.
  12. ^ Forshaw, p. 264
  13. ↑ Robiller, p. 57.
  14. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 125.
  15. ↑ Sindel and Gill, p. 126.

Web links

Commons : Schuppenlori ( Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files