Family Parrots (Psittacidae)
Least Concern
Red-flanked Lorikeet (Charmosyna placentis)
Taxonomy
French: Lori coquet German: Schönlori Spanish: Lori flanquirrojo
Taxonomy:
Psittacus placentis
Temminck
, 1835,Utanata River, New Guinea
.
Subspecies and Distribution
C. p. intensior
(Kinnear, 1928) – N Moluccas (from Morotai S to Obi), and Gebe (in W Papuan Is).
C. p. placentis
(Temminck, 1835) – S Moluccas (from Ambelau and Seram to Kai Is), Aru Is, and through S New Guinea to W Gulf of Papua.
C. p. ornata
Mayr, 1940 – W Papuan Is (except Gebe) and NW New Guinea.
C. p. subplacens
(P. L. Sclater, 1876) – E & SE New Guinea in lowlands E from Sepik R and, in S, from E Gulf of Papua.
C. p. pallidior
(Rothschild & E. J. O. Hartert, 1905) – Bismarck Archipelago and islands of Nuguria and Nissan to Bougainville; also Woodlark I, off SE New Guinea.
Descriptive notes
15–17 cm; 25–48 g. Generally green, yellowish on forecrown; facial patch red, ear-coverts blue, sides of breast, flanks and underwing-coverts red, with yellow... read more
Voice
Calls include a sharp “kssit”, a high-pitched “tss”, more subdued raspy notes and combinations... read more
Habitat
Forest, especially mangroves; also savanna woodland, tall secondary growth, coastal Casuarina... read more
Food and feeding
Apparently mainly or exclusively flowers and their nectar and pollen, including Erythrina indica, Schefflera, ... read more
Breeding
Jun–Nov, possibly much more extended, with birds seen at nest cavities in Feb and Apr. Nest in hole excavated by birds usually in... read more
Movements
Observations on Halmahera suggest birds apparently travelling long distances in search of flowers. read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. CITES II. Generally common, and sometimes abundant e.g. in Bismarck Archipelago. Not a popular target of traders, mainly because most of the birds... read more
Proposed race occidentalis (from Ambelau I, off SE Buru) included in nominate. Five subspecies recognized.