Red-throated Lorikeet

Charmosyna amabilis

18 cm.. length.

The head of the Red-throated Lorikeet (Charmosyna amabilis) is green with lores and chin red. Upperparts green. Wings internal and ends with green feathers flight feather color black. Throat red, bordered below by a narrow yellow collar; rest of the underparts with a yellowish green that upperparts, particularly in the center of belly; the thighs red. The tail above green a little darker than the rump, with yellow ends; undertail yellow. Bill orange; irises yellow; legs orange-red.

Male and female are equal.

Immature generally duller. The the thighs dull purple. The yellow band throat much weaker than in adults and the red facial and marks throat more restricted.

Move by tropical forests, mainly over the 500 m. Son nomads and fly in pairs or small flocks of 5-8 birds in search of flowering trees, uniting to feed on flowers, nectar and pollen. They prefer to feed in the canopy, and although it is apparently ejected away from the areas of power by the aggressive Collared Lory, Holyoak He found two species feeding on the same tree during his remarks in 1973.

Breeding and nesting habits unknown.

They feed actively, to often hung upside down to get to flores.

Size of the area of distribution (reproduction / resident): 37.100 km2

endemic to the Fiji Islands where it is rare and usually only moves above 500 meters and below 1.000 m. Is distributed between in Viti Levu, Ovalau (where it may now be extinct), Vanua Levu and Taveuni. In 1973 Holyoak found at a Red-throated Lorikeet on a wooded Ridge around 250 metres in Viti Levu, species you saw or heard on five different days while exploring Taveuni thinking that the species was widespread in the rainy forests at an altitude between 550 and 1,000 m. The species was also recorded in rainforests between 120 meters and 980 feet by Martyn L. Gorman (1975), but it is said that they are rare. These records are among the few documented sightings of this century. The world's population is believed to be of less than 10.000 specimens. Despite its apparent rarity, This species may be overlooked due to their unobtrusive plumage and behavior.

• Current IUCN Red List category: Critical Hazard

• Population trend: Decreasing

Threats to the lowlands and hills of the forest is slowly being erased much of Fiji. But, the rarity and assumed decline of this species is probably largely the result of predation by introduced mammals, especially Black Rat (Rattus rattus) , as it is the case with the closely related New Caledonian Lorikeet (Charmosyna diadema).

Increases in course in the logging and the expansion of the road network, especially around the Highlands of Monasavu and Serua in Viti Levu, It is likely that you have caused an increase of the density of these rats (Watling 2000, G. Dutson in litt. 2005). The Indian Brown Mongoose (Herpestes fuscus) introduced, is also present in the areas of distribution of the Red-throated Lorikeet and it can be a threat (V. Masibalavu in litt. 2012).

Agricultural expansion is encroaching on primary forest in Taveuni. Have a distribution in mountains close to the maximum altitude within its distribution area, It also makes this potentially susceptible species to climate change (BirdLife International).

Is species is protected by the laws of Fiji. In Viti Levu, dwells within the Tomaniivi nature reserve, but this is not large enough to maintain a resident population and, Despite the creation of the extension Wabu proposal to make a reservation of adequate size, this would not provide better protection against rats if the reserve is kept unmanaged (D. Watling in litt. 2000)

Unknown in captivity.

– Red-throated Lorikeet, Red throated Lorikeet (ingles).
– Lori à gorge rouge (French).
– Rothöschen (German).
– Lori de Garganta Roja, Lori Gorgirrojo (español).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittaculidae
– Scientific name: Charmosyna amabilis
– Citation: (Ramsay, 1875)
– Protonimo: Trichoglossus (Glossopsitta) amabilis

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“Red-throated Lorikeet” (Charmosyna amabilis)

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