The little lorikeet (Parvipsitta pusilla ) is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to Australia. It is a small parrot, predominantly green in plumage with a red face. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.
In zoology, a nectarivore is an animal that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of the sugar-...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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NomadicNomadic animals regularly move to and from the same areas within a well-defined range. Most animals travel in groups in search of better territorie...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Arboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
Flocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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starts withMeasuring 15 cm (5.9 in) in length, the male and female are similarly coloured, although the latter is a little duller. The crown, lores and throat are red, the nape and shoulder bronze-coloured and the remainder of the plumage green. The belly is paler and yellow-green. In adults, the bill is black and the iris golden in colour.: 119 Immature individuals have a paler orange face and a brown iris and bill.
The little lorikeet is found in eastern and southern Australia, from the vicinity of Cairns southwards through Queensland and New South Wales from the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range eastwards to the coast, through most of Victoria and southeastern South Australia. It also occurs in Tasmania although is uncommon there.: 31–32 They are found in forest, especially in the vicinity of flowering or fruit-bearing vegetation.: 90
The little lorikeet is gregarious and often flocks with rainbow, musk and purple-crowned lorikeets.
Little lorikeets feed mostly on nectar and pollen of flowers in the open canopy of woodland trees like Eucalyptus, Angophora and Melaleuca species. They have also been known to feed on native grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea spp.), and occasionally on fruit like the native mistletoe and introduced loquat (Eriobotrya japonica ). They will occasionally visit orchards.
Breeding season is from May in the north, or August in the south, to December. The nest is a hollow in a tree and a clutch of 3–5 matte white roundish eggs, measuring 20 x 16 mm, is laid. The incubation period is around three weeks.
Although first exported to Europe in 1877, the little lorikeet is only very rarely seen outside Australia. Even in its native country, it is uncommon in captivity.: 120–121 It has a reputation of being difficult to keep.: 33
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...