Little lorikeet

The little lorikeet (Parvipsitta pusilla) is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to Australia. It is a small parrot, predominantly green in plumage with a red face. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

Little lorikeet
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Parvipsitta
Species:
P. pusilla
Binomial name
Parvipsitta pusilla
(Shaw, 1790)
The Distribution of the little lorikeet, Data from The Atlas of Living Australia
Synonyms

Psittacus pusillus
Glossopsitta pusilla

Taxonomy

The little lorikeet was first described by ornithologist George Shaw in 1790 as Psittacus pusillus. Its specific epithet is the Latin pusilla "small".[2] Other common names include tiny lorikeet, red-faced lorikeet,[3]:119 gizzie, slit,[4]:31 and formerly a local indigenous term gerryang.[5]

Description

Measuring 15 cm (5.9 in) in length, the male and female are similarly coloured, although the latter is a little duller. The crown, lores and throat are red, the nape and shoulder bronze-coloured and the remainder of the plumage green. The belly is paler and yellow-green. In adults, the bill is black and the iris golden in colour.[3]:119 Immature individuals have a paler orange face and a brown iris and bill.[6]

Distribution and habitat

The little lorikeet is found in eastern and southern Australia, from the vicinity of Cairns southwards through Queensland and New South Wales from the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range eastwards to the coast, through most of Victoria and southeastern South Australia. It also occurs in Tasmania although is uncommon there.[4]:31–32[6] They are found in forest, especially in the vicinity of flowering or fruit-bearing vegetation.[7]:90

Behaviour

The little lorikeet is gregarious and often flocks with rainbow, musk and purple-crowned lorikeets.[8]

Feeding

Little lorikeets feed mostly on nectar and pollen of flowers in the open canopy of woodland trees like Eucalyptus, Angophora and Melaleuca species.[9] They have also been known to feed on native grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea spp.), and occasionally on fruit like the native mistletoe and introduced loquat (Eriobotrya japonica). They will occasionally visit orchards.[7]

Breeding

Breeding season is from May in the north, or August in the south, to December. The nest is a hollow in a tree and a clutch of 3–5 matte white roundish eggs, measuring 20 x 16 mm, is laid. The incubation period is around three weeks.[7]

Aviculture

Although first exported to Europe in 1877, the little lorikeet is only very rarely seen outside Australia. Even in its native country, it is uncommon in captivity.[3]:120–121 It has a reputation of being difficult to keep.[4]:33

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Glossopsitta pusilla". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5th ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 883. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.
  3. Low, Rosemary (1978). Lories and Lorikeets. Melbourne: Inkata Press. ISBN 0-909605-08-4.
  4. Lendon, Alan H. (1973). Australian Parrots in Field and Aviary (2nd ed.). Sydney: Angus and Robertson. ISBN 0-207-12424-8.
  5. Long, George (1841). The Penny Cyclopædia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. London: Charles Knight & Co. p. 90.
  6. Morcombe, Michael (2000). Field Guide to Australian Birds. Archerfield, Queensland: Steve Parish Publishing. pp. 174–175. ISBN 187628210X.
  7. Forshaw, Joseph M. & Cooper, William T. (1978). Parrots of the World (2nd ed.). Melbourne: Landsdowne Editions. ISBN 0-7018-0690-7.
  8. "Little Lorikeet". BirdLife Australia. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  9. "Little Lorikeet - profile". New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
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