Yellow-bibbed Lory

Lorius chlorocercus

A thick-set, short-tailed parrot with green wings, a red body, a black cap, purple thighs, and a yellow bib just underneath a black streak on the side of the neck that extends up toward the cap. Resident in primary forest, but tolerant of modified habitats. Differs from the superficially similar Duchess Lorikeet in its much shorter, square-ended tail and black forehead. Has a vast repertoire of typical parrot-like squeals, shrieks, moans, and chatters.

Identification

The yellow-bibbed lory is 28 cm (11 in) long. It is mostly red with black on top of head and green wings. It has a yellow transverse band on upper chest and a crescent-shaped black patch on each side of neck. It has blue/green thighs and dark-grey legs. It has an orange-red beak, dark-grey eyerings, and orange irises. Under its wings the bird has blue feathers.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Lorius chlorocercus
Authority
Gould, 1856
Order
Psittaciformes
Family
Psittaculidae
Genus
Lorius

Range and habitat

The yellow-bibbed lory is endemic to the eastern Solomon Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Ouvea Parakeet

Ouvea Parakeet

Eunymphicus uvaeensis

Spectacular, relatively large mostly green parakeet with a black face, slight bit of red on the forehead, and thin but prominent “horns” consisting of a crest made up of a pair of black feathers. Typically found in remnant patches of high-quality forest, but visits more disturbed habitat nearby, especially where fruiting trees are present. Found only on Ouvea Island off New Caledonia. Note distinctive voice: relatively low-pitched, nasal trumpeting notes, notably lower-pitched than the voice of Coconut Lorikeet.

Dideric Cuckoo

Dideric Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

A small, greenish cuckoo. The male has barred flanks, white flecking on the wing, white patches in front of and behind the eye, and a distinctly red eye surrounded by a red eye-ring. The bronzy-green female has a diagnostic white patch in front of the eye, a plain back, and white patches in the wings. This common resident and migrant is not a habitat specialist, but it prefers riverine and wetland areas where its preferred brood-parasite hosts, weavers and bishops, are common. The distinctive call is a loud, rising, high-pitched “deee-deee-deee-deee-dederik”.

Gray-headed Dove

Gray-headed Dove

Leptotila plumbeiceps

Retiring, terrestrial dove of humid tropical forest in the lowlands. Heard more frequently than seen. Like other members of the genus, it can be found walking quietly on shady roadsides and trails, especially early and late in the day. It often flushes explosively and flies to a low perch in the understory. Told from White-tipped Dove and Gray-chested Dove by blue-gray crown and hindneck. In flight, all Leptotila doves show white tail corners and rusty under the wings.

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