Orange-billed Lorikeet
Neopsittacus pullicauda
A medium-sized, long-tailed parrot of upper-montane cloud forest and clearings. Predominantly green with a bright red patch from the chest to the belly, broadest in the chest. Orange bill and pale green streaks on the face. Readily seen flying in small flocks. Similar to Yellow-billed Lorikeet, but Orange-billed Lorikeet is usually found at higher elevations, is slightly smaller with an obviously orange bill and greenish undertail. Call, a ringing, high-pitch phrase “sik siruk!” or single “Sik!” note.
Identification
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). Adults are mainly dark emerald green, with red underparts and narrow yellow streaking on the cheeks. 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. The iris and beak are orange, with a yellow tip to the latter, and the feet are dark grey. Immatures are duller in color, with less red on their underparts and an orangish-brown bill. Fledglings have yellow beaks, which turn orange at around 6 months of age.<p>Other than the yellow-billed lorikeet, no other parrot in the species' range has a similar coloration. Compared with the yellow-billed lorikeet, it is smaller in size, has more richly coloured plumage, and has a smaller, orange bill. 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.<p>The species is very vocal and gives a variety of calls, including a high upslurred "tseet" and other, longer high-pitched calls. Although these calls are similar to those of the yellow-billed lorikeet, they tend to be softer, more high-pitched, and more musical.
Taxonomy
The orange-billed lorikeet was formally described as a species by the German ornithologist Ernst Hartert in 1896 based on specimens from the "Victoria district" in the Owen Stanley Range in New Guinea. The generic name Neopsittacus is from the Greek νεος (neos), meaning new, and ψιττακος (psittakos), meaning parrot. The specific epithet pullicauda is from the Latin pullus, meaning dark-colored, and cauda, meaning tail. Alternative common names for the species include emerald lorikeet, alpine lorikeet and orange-billed mountain lorikeet.<p>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. It is treated as having one subspecies by the International Ornithologists' Union; 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 and populations from northeastern New Guinea separated as N. p. socialis.<p>The orange-billed lorikeet is one of two species in the genus Neopsittacus. It and the yellow-billed lorikeet are basal within a clade (group of organisms descending from a common ancestor) formed by Neopsittacus, Lorius, Psitteuteles, Parvipsitta, Pseudeos, Chalcopsitta, Glossoptilus, Glossopsitta, Saudareos, Eos, and Trichoglossus.
- Scientific name
- Neopsittacus pullicauda
- Authority
- Hartert, EJO, 1896
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Genus
- Neopsittacus
Range and habitat
The orange-billed lorikeet is endemic to the island of New Guinea. It inhabits forest canopy, forest edges, and cleared areas bordering forests at high elevations in mountains in the Central Range and the Huon Peninsula, but is absent from the Bird's Head Peninsula. It prefers cloud forest at elevations of 2,100–3,800 m (6,900–12,500 ft), but has been recorded at elevations as low as 800 m (2,600 ft). Vagrancy at lower elevations suggests that the species may sporadically migrate altitudinally; Neopsittacus is one of only five genera in the order Psittaciformes to evolve to be nomadic. At lower elevations, it often inhabits the same areas as the yellow-billed lorikeet.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Orange-billed lorikeets are typically found in small flocks. They feed on pollen, nectar, flowers, fruits, and, uncommonly, seeds. Plants it is known to feed upon include the seed cones of Papuacedrus papuana and the berries of Sericolea pullei. It is more nectarivorous than the yellow-billed lorikeet. They sometimes forage together with yellow-billed lorikeets at fruiting trees, but are rarely found with other species. Its breeding season is in October. It nests in hollows in tall trees, where it lays clutches of 2 eggs. The orange-billed lorikeet is parasitised by a variety of insects, including the rhinonyssid mites Mesonyssus alisteri and Tinaminyssus trichoglossi, the philopterid chewing louse Psittaconirmus zinki, and the menoponid chewing louse Eomenopon semilunare.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Curve-billed Thrasher
Toxostoma curvirostre
Plain grayish-brown thrasher of the southwest U.S. and Mexico. Look for decurved bill and fairly faint round spots on breast and belly. Undertail coverts are slightly warmer buffy. Eye color varies from yellow to orange. Occurs in deserts and open, shrubby areas. Can be shy and skulking, but often perches atop a bush or cactus to sing. More common in suburban areas and parks than other thrashers in range. Most similar to Bendire’s Thrasher. Note Curve-billed has a slightly longer and more curved bill, and breast spots are slightly larger and rounder.
Narrow-billed Tody
Todus angustirostris
A small, gemlike species that prefers higher elevation moist woodlands, but also occurs in coffee plantations. The rather large head, long bill, and short tail create a profile shared only by the Broad-billed Tody within its range. Both species have bright green upperparts and a red throat and sides. Note especially the pale eyes of Narrow-billed Tody, as compared to the dark eyes of Broad-billed. Many Broad-billed also have a buff-yellow wash below, which the Narrow-billed lacks. On birds lacking buff below, the Broad-billed can be identified by its all red lower bill, which is black tipped in the Narrow-billed. Further clues to identification include altitude, with this species occurring above 700 meters elevation and the Broad-billed occurring mostly below 700 meters. The Broad-billed also tends to forage higher within woodlands on more open perches. Vocalizations include a buzzy “chik-zhwik” with second note slightly upslurred and a rapid buzzy chatter at about 14 notes per second; compare this with the quick “weep” or “whip” uttered by the Broad-billed.
Blue-throated Piping-Guan
Pipile cumanensis
Large, lanky, black and white bird of lowland rainforest. Note the bare, white face and white wing patches, which really stand out in flight. Crown and nape are also mostly white, but also streaked with buff. It has a fleshy throat patch that is typically blue, but it may be gray or black on some birds. Mostly arboreal, but sometimes descends to the ground to feed or drink. Song, often given at dawn or dusk, is a rising series of clear whistles. Occasionally rattles its wings loudly in flight.
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