Musk lorikeet
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Glossopsitta concinna

The musk lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna ) is a lorikeet, now the only species in the genus Glossopsitta. It inhabits south-central/eastern Australia. The little lorikeet and the purple-crowned lorikeet were previously included in the genus. The musk lorikeet was first described by ornithologist George Shaw in 1790 as Psittacus concinnus, from a collection in the vicinity of Port Jackson in what is now Sydney. John Latham described it as Psittacus australis. Its specific epithet is the Latin concinna "elegant". Other common names include red-eared lorikeet, and green keet, and formerly a local Sydney indigenous term coolich. The names green leek and king parrot have been incorrectly applied to this species in the past.

Appearance

The musk lorikeet is 22 centimetres (8.7 in) long. It is mainly green and it is identified by its red forehead, blue crown and a distinctive yellow band on its wing. Both upper and lower mandibles of the beak are red at the tip and darker near its base.

Distribution

Geography

Countries
Biogeographical realms

Musk lorikeets are found in eastern New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.They are an uncommon nomad in woodlands and drier forests in south-east mainland, mainly west of Great Dividing Range, and in Tasmania.Musk lorikeets have been sighted and are recent common visitors to fruit trees in the Punchbowl Area, near Launceston, Northern Tasmania. Favourite foods seem to include apricots, apples, bottlebrush flowers & nectar, as well as seeds and nectar from Grevillea spp.

Habits and Lifestyle

Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Mating Habits

The musk lorikeet breeds mainly from August to January. The nest is usually built in a hollow limb high in a tree. Two white 24 mm × 20 mm (0.94 in × 0.79 in) eggs are laid and incubated for 22 days by the female. The young are fledged after 5 to 6 weeks.

Population

References

1. Musk lorikeet Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musk_lorikeet
2. Musk lorikeet on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22684652/93039528
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/607858

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