Orange-billed lorikeet

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Orange-billed lorikeet

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Neopsittacus
Species:
N. pullicauda
Binomial name
Neopsittacus pullicauda
Hartert, 1896
Synonyms[2]
  • Neopsittacus muschenbrocki alpinus Ogilvie-Grant, 1914
  • Neopsittacus pullicauda socialis Mayr, 1931

The orange-billed lorikeet (Neopsittacus pullicauda) is a

cloud forest, forest edges, and cleared areas bordering forests at elevations of 2,100–3,800 m (6,900–12,500 ft). Adults are 18 cm (7.1 in) long on average and weigh 25–40 g (0.88–1.41 oz), and are mainly green in color, with a red underside and narrow yellow streaking on the cheeks. It looks similar to the closely related yellow-billed lorikeet, but is smaller in size, has more richly coloured plumage
, and has a smaller, orange bill.

The species feeds on pollen, nectar, flowers, fruits, and, uncommonly, seeds. They sometimes forage together with yellow-billed lorikeets at fruiting trees, but are rarely found with species of other

least concern on the IUCN Red List
due to its large range and lack of severe declines in its population.

Taxonomy and systematics

The orange-billed lorikeet was

specific epithet pullicauda is from the Latin pullus, meaning dark-colored, and cauda, meaning tail.[4] Alternative common names for the species include emerald lorikeet, alpine lorikeet and orange-billed mountain lorikeet.[2][5]

The species shows clinal variation (gradual variation in its appearance along its range), with birds from western populations being smaller and paler than birds from southeastern ones.[2] It is treated as having one subspecies by the International Ornithologists' Union;[6] however, some authorities recognize as many as three subspecies on the basis of differences in appearance, with populations from central western New Guinea separated as N. p. alpinus[a] and populations from northeastern New Guinea separated as N. p. socialis.[b][7]

The orange-billed lorikeet is one of two species in the

Glossopsitta, Saudareos, Eos, and Trichoglossus.[8][9]

Loriini

Plum-faced lorikeet

Pygmy lorikeet

Hypocharmosyna – 2 species

Charmosynopsis – 2 species

Duchess lorikeet

Vini
– 11 species

Yellow-billed lorikeet

Orange-billed lorikeet

Lorius – 6 species

Pseudeos – 2 species

Chalcopsitta – 3 species

Goldie's lorikeet

Musk lorikeet

Saudareos – 5 species

Eos – 6 species

Trichoglossus – 10 species

Relationships of Neopsittacus to related genera based on a genetic study published in 2023.[10]

Description

The orange-billed lorikeet is a small species of lorikeet, with a length of around 18 cm (7.1 in) and a weight of 25–40 g (0.88–1.41 oz).[7] Adults are mainly dark emerald green, with red underparts and narrow yellow streaking on the cheeks.[7][11] The flanks and wings are also emerald green; the underside of the tail is a duller green, with a red patch at the base. The underwing is bright red and is especially prominent in flight.[11] The iris and beak are orange, with a yellow tip to the latter, and the feet are dark grey.[5] Immatures are duller in color, with less red on their underparts and an orangish-brown bill.[7] Fledglings have yellow beaks, which turn orange at around 6 months of age.[12]

Other than the yellow-billed lorikeet, no other parrot in the species' range has a similar coloration.[11] Compared with the yellow-billed lorikeet, it is smaller in size, has more richly coloured plumage, and has a smaller, orange bill.[5] Additionally, it can also be distinguished by its flanks and wings being the same shade of green, the underside of the tail being dull green with red at the base, and the lack of an olive tint to the top of its head.[11]

Vocalisations

The species is very vocal and gives a variety of calls, including a high upslurred "tseet" and other, longer high-pitched calls.[7] Although these calls are similar to those of the yellow-billed lorikeet, they tend to be softer, more high-pitched, and more musical.[11]

Distribution and habitat

The orange-billed lorikeet is

Psittaciformes to evolve to be nomadic.[13] At lower elevations, it often inhabits the same areas as the yellow-billed lorikeet.[2]

Behaviour and ecology

Orange-billed lorikeets are typically found in small flocks.

nectarivorous than the yellow-billed lorikeet.[7] They sometimes forage together with yellow-billed lorikeets at fruiting trees, but are rarely found with other species.[11] Its breeding season is in October. It nests in hollows in tall trees, where it lays clutches of 2 eggs.[7] The orange-billed lorikeet is parasitised by a variety of insects, including the rhinonyssid mites Mesonyssus alisteri and Tinaminyssus trichoglossi,[14][15] the philopterid chewing louse Psittaconirmus zinki,[16] and the menoponid chewing louse Eomenopon semilunare.[17]

Status

The species is listed as being of

Appendix II of CITES. It is common throughout most of its range and is not particularly threatened by habitat loss or the wildlife trade.[7]

Notes

  1. ^ Said to have an orange breast, compared to the nominate subspecies's red one, and a darker red belly.[7]
  2. ^ Said to be darker overall than the nominate subspecies.[7]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684720A93043490.en
    . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-0-691-16424-3
    .
  3. ^ Hartert, Ernst (1896). "List of three small collections from British New Guinea, mostly brought together in the Owen Stanley Range". Novitates Zoologicae. 3: 8–19 [17].
  4. ISBN 978-1-4081-3326-2
    .
  5. ^ a b c Ripley, Sydney Dillon (1964). A Systematic and Ecological Study of Birds of New Guinea. 19. New Haven, Connecticut: Peabody Museum of Natural History. pp. 32–33.
  6. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (2023-07-15). "Parrots, cockatoos". IOC World Bird List. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  7. ^
    S2CID 241483025
    , retrieved 2023-09-07
  8. S2CID 222094508
    .
  9. PMID 32470111
    .
  10. PMID 35916751
    .
  11. ^
    ISBN 9780691095622
    .
  12. Australian Bird Watcher
    . 10 (7): 219–220.
  13. doi:10.1093/beheco/arh159
    . Considering residency as the ancestral state for the Order Psittaciformes, nomadism seems to have evolved three times independently in the clades Charmosyna, Psephotus/Northiella, and Neopsittacus/Trichoglossus...
  14. JSTOR 3276960 – via JSTOR
    .
  15. ^ Wilson, Nixon (1964). "New records and description of Rhinonyssidae, mostly from New Guinea (Acarina: Mesostigmata)" (PDF). Pacific Insects. 6 (2): 374–375.
  16. ^ Price, Roger D.; Clayton, Dale H. (1983). "A review of the genus Psittaconirmus (Mallophaga: Philopteridae) from South Pacific parrots (Psittaciformes)" (PDF). International Journal of Entomology. 25 (1): 56–70 [63].
  17. ^ Price, Roger D. (1966). "The genus Eomenopon Harrison with descriptions of seven new species (Mallophaga: Menoponidae)" (PDF). Pacific Insects. 8 (1): 17–28 [22].


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