Fairy Lorikeet Charmosynopsis pulchella Scientific name definitions

18–19 cm; 24–35 g. Red on head , nape and underparts except for purplish-black patch on mid- to hindcrown, thin yellow streaks on breast, dusky thighs; wings green with red and green underwing-coverts and dark flight-feathers; rump patch dull blue, sometimes washed green; uppertail-coverts and proximal half of uppertail green, distal half red becoming yellow, underside yellow; bill and legs orange-red. Female has yellow patches on sides of rump. Immature has green in dark crown patch and thighs, and on breast, yellow band across underside of flight-feathers. Race rothschildi has crown patch joined to rear edge of dark supercilium, large green breast patch, dull purplish belly, no blue rump; female more extensively green below.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Feeds at canopy flowers presumably on pollen and nectar; large Melicope trees appear important, and inflorescences of Elaeocarpus and Syzygium.

Calls include a high-pitched “tsit” and a shriller “skreet”. During feeding and in flight, groups maintain contact using a continuous twittering.

Dec–Jan, Apr. Nest a hole excavated in the base of an epiphyte. In captivity: 1–2 eggs, size 18·9 mm × 16·2 mm (2 Harrison, C. J. O., and D. T. Holyoak (1970). Apparently undescribed parrot eggs in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 90(2):42–46. Close ); incubation apparently 25 days; nestling period c. 2 months.