| Fairy lorikeet | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittaculidae |
| Genus: | Charmosynopsis |
| Species: | C. pulchella |
| Binomial name | |
| Charmosynopsis pulchella (Gray, GR, 1859) | |
Thefairy lorikeet (Charmosynopsis pulchella) is a species ofparrot in the familyPsittaculidae. Other common names include thelittle red lorikeet and thelittle red lory. Found inNew Guinea, its naturalhabitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowlandforests and subtropical or tropical moistmontane forests. Its colouration is mainly red with some yellow on the throat and green on the wings. Two subspecies are recognised,C. p. pulchella andC. p. rothschildi.
The fairy lorikeet wasformally described in 1859 by the English zoologistGeorge Robert Gray under thebinomial nameCharmosyna pulchella.[2] It was moved from the originalgenusCharmosyna to the resurrected genusCharmosynopsis following the publication of amolecular phylogenetic study in 2020.[3][4][5]
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.[6]
The maleC. 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.[6]
The fairy lorikeet is resident on the island of New Guinea.C. p. pulchella is present in mountainous regions from theVogelkop Peninsula eastwards to theHuon Peninsula and the southeastern part of the island, as well as in theFakfak Mountains in theBomberai Peninsula.C. p. rothschildi is found in north and central New Guinea in theCyclops Mountains and other nearby mountain ranges.[7]
The fairy lorikeet is assumed to feed on pollen and nectar foraged from flowers high in theforest canopy and is often associated withMelicope trees.[7] 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.[7]
The fairy lorikeet has a wide range and is common in many places, though less so in other areas where it is collected for the pet trade. The population appears stable and theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed itsconservation status as being of "least concern".[1]
