Eos | |
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Violet-necked lory (Eos squamata) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Psittaciformes |
Family: | Psittaculidae |
Tribe: | Loriini |
Genus: | Eos Wagler, 1832 |
Type species | |
Psittacus indicus [1] = Psittacus histrio Gmelin, 1788 | |
Species | |
6, see text. |
Eos is a genus of parrots belonging to the lories and lorikeets tribe of the family Psittaculidae. There are six species which are all endemic to islands of eastern Indonesia, [2] [3] most within very restricted ranges. They have predominantly red plumage with blue, purple or black markings. Males and females are similar in appearance.
Their habitats include forest, coconut plantations and mangroves. They gather in flowering trees to feed on nectar and pollen with their brush-tipped tongues. Fruit and insects are also eaten. They make nests in tree hollows generally high in old large trees. Threats to these parrots include habitat loss and trapping for the cagebird trade, and one species, the red-and-blue lory, is classified as endangered.
The plumage of Eos lories is predominantly red, set off with blue, purple or black markings. [2] [3] They range in length from 24 cm (9.5 in) in the blue-eared lory [3] to 31 cm (12 in) in several of the larger species. [2] [3] The bill is orange-red, the irises are reddish to reddish-brown, and the legs are grey. Males and females are identical in external appearance. [4] They have a musky odour, especially noticeable in the black-winged lory, which is retained even in museum skins. [5] Juvenile birds are partly striated owing to feathers with darker or dusky tips, [2] [5] and they have orange-brown to black beaks. [2]
Species in the genus Eos are distinguished from lories in the genus Chalcopsitta by shorter tails and the absence of a bare patch of skin around the mandibles. [5] Members of Eos do not have green plumage, which helps to distinguish them from some species of other lory genera. [4]
Eos (Ἔως) is Greek for "dawn", referring to the red plumage.
The Eos lories feed on the nectar and pollen of various trees and plants. Very little is known about the diet of most species, but birds have been observed feeding on the flowers of coconuts, Eugenia , coral trees ( Erythrina ), Canarium , and sago palm ( Metroxylon ). In addition, they have been observed feeding on unripe fruits of fig trees ( Ficus ), and insects have been found in the stomachs of at least one species (the red lory). Some species are reported to be nomadic, moving between islands within their range in order to find food. These movements can apparently be daily as well, with the violet-necked lory making daily trips from its main islands to smaller offshore islands. [6]
The Eos lories are apparently seasonal breeders, with birds prospecting for nesting sites varying by species, having been observed in June and July in the black-winged lory but August and September in the red lory. Like most parrots, they are cavity nesters, generally nesting high in older large trees either in forests or in modified habitats. Most of what is known about their nesting behaviour is derived from captive birds. They generally have a clutch size of two eggs which are incubated for 26–27 days. Chicks take around 75–87 days to fledge. [6]
Threats to these parrots include habitat loss and trapping for the cagebird trade. For example, between 1983 and 1989 an average of 3,200 red lories were trapped and exported per year, which has apparently led to declines in some parts of its range. [6] The red-and-blue lory is an endangered species, [7] and the black-winged lory is classed as vulnerable. [8] The red-and-blue lory is listed under Appendix I of CITES, [9] banning all trade in wild caught birds, [6] while all other species are listed under Appendix II and require permits for their trade.
The genus Eos was introduced by the German naturalist Johann Georg Wagler in 1832. [10] The name is from the Ancient Greek eōs meaning "dawn". [11] The type species was subsequently designated as the red-and-blue lory (Eos histrio) by the English zoologist George Robert Gray in 1840. [12]
The closest relatives of this genus are the species in the genus Trichoglossus . [13] [14] The genera Eos, Trichoglossus , Chalcopsitta , and Pseudeos form a single clade within the lories and lorikeets. [13] [14] The cardinal lory (Chalcopsitta cardinalis) has sometimes been placed in the genus. [15]
The genus Eos has six species and several subspecies: [16]
Eos, Wagler 1832
Species of Eos in taxonomic sequence | |||
---|---|---|---|
Common and binomial names [16] | Image | Description | Range |
Red-and-blue lory (Eos histrio) | 31 cm (12 in) long. Mostly red and blue, with some black on wings and thighs. Blue back and breast. Red above beak. Band of blue plumage over the mid-crown is continuous with blue around the eyes and blue bands that extend downwards to join blue on the back. [3] [17] | Several subspecies; Talaud Islands, (including the Nanusa Islands), and Sangir Islands of Indonesia [3] [7] | |
Violet-necked lory (Eos squamata) | 27 cm (11 in) long. Mostly red and blue with a blue abdomen. Extent of blue neck collar depends on subspecies. Red and black in wings. Purple-red tail. [2] | Several subspecies; western Papuan Islands and North Moluccas of Indonesia [2] [18] | |
Red lory (Eos bornea) | 31 cm (12 in) long. Mostly red and upper body is all red. Red, blue and black markings on back and wings. [3] | Several subspecies on islands from South Moluccas to Kai Islands, Indonesia [3] [19] | |
Blue-streaked lory (Eos reticulata) | 31 cm (12 in) long. Mostly red with blue streaking over back, and red and black in wings and tail. Blue plumage extends from eyes over ears and partly down neck. [2] | Yamdena and Larat of the Tanimbar Islands and also on Babar of the Babar Islands, Indonesia [20] | |
Black-winged lory (Eos cyanogenia) | 31 cm (12 in) long. [2] Mostly red with blue plumage around eyes extending back over ears. Black on back, wings, and thighs. [2] [21] | Geelvink Islands, Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Indonesia [8] [21] | |
Blue-eared lory (Eos semilarvata) | 24 cm (9.4 in) long. Mostly red with blue underparts. Blue plumage extends under chin, under eyes, and part way down side of head and neck. Red, blue, and black in wings. [3] | Seram, Indonesia [3] [22] |
Loriinae is a subfamily of psittacine birds, one of the six subfamilies that make up the family Psittaculidae. It consists of three tribes, the lories and lorikeets (Loriini), the budgerigar (Melopsittacini) and the fig parrots (Cyclopsittini), which are small birds, mostly of bright colors and inhabitants of Oceania and the islands of Southeast Asia.
The scaly-breasted lorikeet is an Australian lorikeet found in woodland in eastern Australia. The common name aptly describes this bird, which has yellow breast feathers broadly edged with green that look like scales.
The black lory, is a medium-sized, blackish parrot with black bill, dark grey feet and long rounded tail. It has yellow and red under-tail. The sexes are similar. It is native to West Papua in Indonesia.
The red-collared lorikeet is a species of parrot found in wooded habitats in northern Australia. It was previously considered a subspecies of the rainbow lorikeet, but today most major authorities consider them as separate species. No other member of the rainbow lorikeet group has an orange-red collar over the nape.
The black-winged lory also known as the Biak red lory, is a medium-sized, about 30 cm (12 in) long, long-tailed lory. It has a bright red plumage, black shoulder, red iris, an orange red bill and violet ear-patch behind eye. The underwings are red, becoming yellowish with black tips. Both sexes are similar.
The blue-eared lory is a parrot found only on the island of Seram in Maluku province, Indonesia.
The blue lorikeet is a small lorikeet from French Polynesia and the Cook Islands. It is also known as the Tahiti lorikeet, violet lorikeet, Tahitian lory, blue lory, nunbird, and the indigo lory. It was formerly found on 23 islands around Tahiti, but now restricted to perhaps eight islands: Aitutaki, Apataki, Arutua, Kaukura, Manuae, Maupihaa, Motu One, Rangiroa, and possibly Manihi and Manuae. Its plumage is mainly dark blue and it has a white area over its upper chest, throat and face. The first captive breeding in the UK was by the Marquess of Tavistock in the 1930s. He was awarded a silver medal by the Foreign Bird League for this achievement.
The blue-streaked lory is also known as the blue-necked lory. It is a medium-sized parrot (31 cm), which is found on the Tanimbar Islands and Babar in the southern Moluccas.
The red-and-blue lory is a small, strikingly-colored parrot endemic to Indonesia. The species inhabits a single island, Karakelong, in the Indonesian archipelago, although it was formerly found on the Sangihe Islands and other parts of the Talaud Islands.
The purple-crowned lorikeet, is a lorikeet found in scrub and mallee of southern Australia. It is a small lorikeet distinguished by a purple crown, an orange forehead and ear-coverts, and a light blue chin and chest.
The cardinal lory is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. The cardinal lory lives mainly in the mangrove and the lowland forests of the Solomon Islands, Bougainville Island and easternmost islands of the Bismarck Archipelago. It was previously found in the genus Chalcopsitta.
The brown lory, also called Duyvenbode's lory, is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae native to northern New Guinea.
The red lory is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is the second-most commonly kept lory in captivity, after the rainbow lorikeet.
The violet-necked lory is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to Indonesia, where it is found in the northern Maluku Islands and west Papuan islands. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical mangrove forests.
The purple-bellied lory is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. It is found in south-east New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the d'Entrecasteaux Islands, the Louisiade Archipelago, the Trobriand Islands and Woodlark Island.
The orange-billed lorikeet is a species in the Old World parrot family Psittaculidae. First described by the German ornithologist Ernst Hartert in 1896, it is endemic to New Guinea, where it mainly inhabits cloud forest, forest edges, and cleared areas bordering forests at elevations of 2,100–3,800 m (6,900–12,500 ft). Adults are 18 cm (7.1 in) long on average and weigh 25–40 g (0.88–1.41 oz), and are mainly green in color, with a red underside and narrow yellow streaking on the cheeks. It looks similar to the closely related yellow-billed lorikeet, but is smaller in size, has more richly coloured plumage, and has a smaller, orange bill.
The collared lory is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to the islands of Fiji. It is the only Fijian rainforest bird to adapt to urban landscapes and can be found in urban Suva. Measuring 20 cm (7.9 in), it has bright red underparts and face with a purple crown and greenish upperparts. Males and females are similar in plumage, although the latter have a paler crown.
Goldie's lorikeet is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Glossoptilus. It is found in forest and woodland in New Guinea, primarily at altitudes of 1000–2200 m. It is mostly green with yellowish streaks in the chest area, and a red, blue and purple head. It is a small bird measuring 19 cm in length and weighing 45–60 grams.
The olive-headed lorikeet, also called the perfect lorikeet, is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is found in forest, woodland and cultivated areas on Timor and smaller nearby islands.
The ornate lorikeet, sometimes named the ornate lory, is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to the Sulawesi archipelago in Indonesia. It is found in forest, woodland, mangrove and plantations, and is locally common.