Fairy Lorikeet
Charmosynopsis pulchella
A small, long-tailed lorikeet of foothill and lower montane forest. Red head and chest with a darker belly, green back and black patch on the back of the head. Note the yellow undertail and tip, and yellow streaking on the breast. Similar to Josephine’s Lorikeet, but Fairy Lorikeet is distinctly smaller, has streaking on the chest and lacks josephines dark patch on the belly. Call, a soft, high-pitch “seep” note repeated. Sometimes several notes slurred together.
Identification
The fairy lorikeet grows to a length of about 18 cm (7 in) and weighs between 24 and 34 g (0.8 and 1.2 oz). The male of the nominate subspecies, C. p. pulchella, has the head, nape, breast and underparts red, the breast sometimes being streaked with yellow. The back of the crown has a purplish spot. The mantle, back and wings are dark green, as are the upper tail coverts. The upper side of the tail is green tipped with yellow and the central tail feathers are red towards their tips. The underside of the tail is yellow and the thighs are dark purple. The beak is orange and the eye yellowish-orange. The female is similar but the lower back is yellowish-green and the sides of the rump and flanks are yellow.<p>The male C. p. rothschildi differs in that the breast is green streaked with yellow, while the dark spot on the crown is larger and extends forward to the eye and fades backwards into the green mantle. The upper tail coverts are washed with yellow and the belly is dark purple. The female has a wide green breast band streaked with yellow and a greenish-yellow patch on the side of the rump.
Taxonomy
The fairy lorikeet was formally described in 1859 by the English zoologist George Robert Gray under the binomial name Charmosyna pulchella. It was moved from the original genus Charmosyna to the resurrected genus Charmosynopsis following the publication of a molecular phylogenetic study in 2020.
- Scientific name
- Charmosynopsis pulchella
- Authority
- (Gray, GR, 1859)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Genus
- Charmosynopsis
Range and habitat
The fairy lorikeet is resident on the island of New Guinea. C. p. pulchella is present in mountainous regions from the Vogelkop Peninsula eastwards to the Huon Peninsula and the southeastern part of the island, as well as in the Fakfak Mountains in the Bomberai Peninsula. C. p. rothschildi is found in north and central New Guinea in the Cyclops Mountains and other nearby mountain ranges.
- Migration
- Nomadic movement
Behavior
The fairy lorikeet is assumed to feed on pollen and nectar foraged from flowers high in the forest canopy and is often associated with Melicope trees. Breeding has been observed in December, January and April. A nesting site is often a hole at the base of an epiphytic plant where a clutch of one or two eggs is incubated for about twenty five days.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Orange-crowned Euphonia
Euphonia saturata
Small finchlike bird, compact and short tailed with a stout bill. Male has notably orange-tinged underparts and dark upperparts with a purplish sheen. The orange-yellow crown is extensive (not restricted to the forehead like many other euphonias). Also note the underside of the tail, which is entirely dark. Females are plain yellowish-olive overall and difficult to separate from other euphonias, especially Thick-billed, but usually seen in pairs or small groups with males. Frequents woodlands, edges, and clearings in lowlands and foothills, often in fairly dry regions. Can be found in mixed-feeding flocks with other species such as warblers and tanagers.
Cape Robin-Chat
Dessonornis caffer
Pretty robin-chat with a short white eyebrow and a rufous chest. This is the only robin-chat with a gray belly. The outer tail feathers are orange, which can be conspicuous in flight. Found in many different habitats, including fynbos, scrub, heath, gardens, forest edge, and thicket. More fond of open habitats than other robin-chats. Away from South Africa, only found in the mountains. Song is a typical thrush-like series of inquisitive, cheerful notes.
Square-tailed Nightjar
Caprimulgus fossii
Medium-sized, typical nightjar with bold pale spots on the back. Both sexes have a broad pale patch on the outer tail that is white in males and buff in females. Found in a variety of woodland and savanna habitats that are usually moist and often near water. Song is an extraordinarily long, dry trill that changes in speed and pitch. Most similar to Swamp Nightjar, but has smaller pale patches in the outer tail and lacks a blackish cheek; male has a white trailing edge to the wing in flight. Also similar to Montane Nightjar but found in different habitat.
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