Colourization Adult L.l. lory: both adults in general red; black forehead; black lores and occiput, all with purple gloss; dark blue band on back of neck; blue mantle; bronze/green wings; dark blue lower breast and undertail coverts; dark blue on sides of breast, meeting with blue mantle; underwing stripe yellow; red tail with wide blue/black tip. Bill yellow/orange. Dark grey cere. Eye orange/red. L.l. erthrothorax: both adults red on lower breast, blue on sides of breast absent; band across back of neck narrower. L.l. somu: both adults as in erthrothorax but blue on back of neck absent. L.l. salvadorii: both adults as in erythrothorax, but with dark blue underwing coverts; band on back of neck dark blue; centre of abdomen black and wide black band across lower breast meeting with underwing coverts. L.l. viridicrissalis: both adults as in salvadorii but with darker more black band on back of neck; in male underwing coverts washed with dark blue, in female dark blue. L.l. jobiensis: both adults as in salvadorii but with pink/red tint to red breast; yellow underwing band absent; lighter blue mantle and stripe across back of neck. L.l. cyanuchen: both adults in general blue markings lighter and less black in colour than in salvadorii; red on nape absent, blue of back of neck meeting black of crown and occiput. Colourization Juvenile: L.l. lory: as in adults but dark blue on upper breast; blue lesser underwing coverts. Cere and bare eye ring pale grey. Bill brown. Eye brown. L.l. erythrothorax: as in adults. L.l. somu: as in adults. L.l. salvadorii: as in adults. L.l. viridicrissalis: as in adults. L.l. jobiensis: as in adults. L.l. cyanuchen: as in adults. Call: Calls given in flight are raucous two-or-three syllable whistling notes with upswing at end. Interspersed with loud calls. Gives whistles and squeaks while perched.
Not Threatened.
Colourization Adult L.l. lory: both adults in general red; black forehead; black lores and occiput, all with purple gloss; dark blue band on back of neck; blue mantle; bronze/green wings; dark blue lower breast and undertail coverts; dark blue on sides of breast, meeting with blue mantle; underwing stripe yellow; red tail with wide blue/black tip. Bill yellow/orange. Dark grey cere. Eye orange/red. L.l. erthrothorax: both adults red on lower breast, blue on sides of breast absent; band across back of neck narrower. L.l. somu: both adults as in erthrothorax but blue on back of neck absent. L.l. salvadorii: both adults as in erythrothorax, but with dark blue underwing coverts; band on back of neck dark blue; centre of abdomen black and wide black band across lower breast meeting with underwing coverts. L.l. viridicrissalis: both adults as in salvadorii but with darker more black band on back of neck; in male underwing coverts washed with dark blue, in female dark blue. L.l. jobiensis: both adults as in salvadorii but with pink/red tint to red breast; yellow underwing band absent; lighter blue mantle and stripe across back of neck. L.l. cyanuchen: both adults in general blue markings lighter and less black in colour than in salvadorii; red on nape absent, blue of back of neck meeting black of crown and occiput. Colourization Juvenile: L.l. lory: as in adults but dark blue on upper breast; blue lesser underwing coverts. Cere and bare eye ring pale grey. Bill brown. Eye brown. L.l. erythrothorax: as in adults. L.l. somu: as in adults. L.l. salvadorii: as in adults. L.l. viridicrissalis: as in adults. L.l. jobiensis: as in adults. L.l. cyanuchen: as in adults. Call: Calls given in flight are raucous two-or-three syllable whistling notes with upswing at end. Interspersed with loud calls. Gives whistles and squeaks while perched.
31 cm, 200-260 g
Taxonomy:
- Psittacus Lory Linnaeus, 1758, East Indies = north-western New Guinea. Genus name formerly given as Domicella Wagler, 1832, since Lorius Boddaert, 1783, applicable to Eclectus, had priority; however, Boddaert's name was officially suppressed in 1970, leaving Lorius Vigors, 1825, as the correct name for present species and congeners. Forms a superspecies with L. garrulus, L. domicella and L. hypoinochrous. Seven subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * lory (Linnaeus, 1758) - W Papuan Is and Vogelkop (NW New Guinea). * cyanauchen (S. Müller, 1841) - Biak in Geelvink Bay. * jobiensis (A. B. Meyer, 1874) - Yapen and Mios Num in Geelvink Bay. * viridicrissalis de Beaufort, 1909 - N New Guinea from Humboldt Bay to Mamberano R. * salvadorii A. B. Meyer, 1891 - NE New Guinea from Aitape area to Astrolabe Bay. * erythrothorax Salvadori, 1877 - throughout S & E New Guinea except where replaced by somu. * somu (Diamond, 1967) - Papua New Guinea, in area between R Fly and R Purari.
Found up to 1000m in primary forest and forest edges, also has been recorded in well grown secondary forest. Also occurs in partially cleared areas and swamp forest.
Includes pollen, nectar, flowers, fruit and insects.
May-Oct. Usually found in pairs and small groups, and may occur in parties of 10 or more when meeting to feed in flowering trees. Forages in middle storey or canopy. Quiet and inconspicuous. 2 elliptical eggs, 27.0 x 22.0m