Red-and-blue lory

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Red-and-blue lory
Eos histrio talautensis -Loro Parque, Tenerife, Spain-8a-4c.jpg
Eos histrio talautensis 1.jpg
At Loro Parque, Tenerife, Spain
CITES Appendix I (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Eos
Species:
E. histrio
Binomial name
Eos histrio

The red-and-blue lory (Eos histrio) 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. [3]

Contents

Taxonomy

E. h. challengeri (left) and the extinct subspecies E. h. histrio (right). Eos histrio histrio.jpg
E. h. challengeri (left) and the extinct subspecies E. h. histrio (right).

There are two subspecies recognized, of which one is extinct: [4]

E. h. histrio is thought to have become extinct due to deforestation. [5] The subspecies E. h. challengeri, formerly thought to have existed on Miangas or Nenusa, was also previously thought to have been driven to extinction, with the populations on the Talaud Islands belonging to the subspecies E. h. talautensis. [5] [6] However, the purported range of challengeri has never been established and is thus thought to be erroneous, so it was synonymized with E. h. talautensis by the International Ornithological Congress in 2022, thus "reviving" challengeri as an extant subspecies. [7]

Description

The red-and-blue lory is roughly 12 inches (30 cm) in length, including the tail. The species is sexually monomorphic, i.e. sexes are visually alike. [8]

The beak is short, sharply curved, and bright orange. The feathers nearest the cere (the area nearest the nostrils) are bright red. The crown of the head is intense purple. The back of the head is red, and the nape of the neck is intense violet. An indigo-violet stripe runs diagonally from the cere corner to the nape of the neck. The bird's plumage is mostly bright red. The rump and lower belly are a slightly deeper red. The breast has a broad band of deep blue. Extending the color from the nape, the bird's back is a deep violet purple. Wing and tail flight feathers - rectrices and remiges - are between red and red-violet. The wing covert feathers are black and red with black tips. The leg feathers are bluish-purple. The feet are medium gray, and the claws are black. The cere is very dark gray, and the irises of the eyes are dark brown. [3]

The red-and-blue lory's voice consists of short, harsh chattering screeches. [9] Their flight is said to be quick and straight. [10]

Distribution and habitat

The red-and-blue lory is now confined to the Talaud Islands off northern Sulawesi, Indonesia, where almost all individuals appear to inhabit a single island (Karakelang). Further populations, some apparently introduced, disappeared during the 20th century from Sangihe, Siau and Tagulandang. The population is thought to be in rapid decline.

The birds inhabit forests from sea level to about 1,500 meters above sea level. The population is only sustainable or viable on Karakelang, and their population on that island is fragmented into approximately four locations. This restricted range makes them very vulnerable to potential extinction. [9]

Ecology

These parrots are strictly arboreal, meaning they spend their lives in the trees. They do not forage on the ground. [3] [8] The species eats a primarily nectar- and pollen-based diet, like most lories and lorikeets. It supplements its diet with occasional insects and fruit. [8] [10] The red-and-blue lory is said to be raucous and noisy in the wild, but to be silent while feeding. [8]

Mature trees are needed for nesting, and logging sometimes selectively removes these trees, which constitutes a threat to the specie's survival. [9] Clutch size is 2 eggs, with a hatching time of 25–26 days. [8] Outside of the breeding season, the species forms social flocks, which congregate in palm plantations. [10] While the species is nonmigratory, they are said to fly between neighboring islands in search of food. [10]

Most lories and lorikeets have a lifespan of 10–15 years in captivity, so although the lifespan of this species is not definitively known, it can be possibly inferred from the lifespans of similar species. Very rare in commercial aviculture, [8] successful breeding has only been reported once in the scientific literature.[ citation needed ]

Conservation

Specimen in a zoo Eos histrio -zoo-8a.jpg
Specimen in a zoo

The red-and-blue lory is currently classified as Endangered by the IUCN. The species is also listed as CITES Appendix I, meaning that all commercial international trade in wild-caught individuals is prohibited. Illegal trade continues, however, with 80% of the illegally taken or 'poached' specimens being shipped to the neighboring Philippines. [1]

Threats to the population include illegal trapping for the pet trade, insecticide spraying on coconut plantations, logging or habitat degradation, and exotic Newcastle disease from escaped domestic poultry. [9] Due to their striking appearance, these parrots have been valued as pets or cage birds in Indonesia and the Philippines since the 19th century. They have been trapped for commercial trade since that time. Only since the late 1990s did the trapping decrease. Loose enforcement of international and national laws has contributed to the decline of the species. These bird are fully protected by Indonesian law as well as CITES. Logging activities, even in their nature preserve home, also threaten the species. Population-wise, two of the three subspecies, including the nominate or definitive subspecies, are presumed extinct, and the remaining subspecies is on the decline. Only 5,500–14,000 red-and-blue lories remain in the wild. [9]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loriinae</span> Subfamily of birds

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">White cockatoo</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sangihe tarsier</span> Species of primate

The Sangihe tarsier, also known as Sangihe Island tarsier, is a small primate found on Sangir Island, which is located about 200 kilometers north-east of the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. In 2008 a population of the Sangihe tarsier was determined to be a distinct species, the Siau Island tarsier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moluccan eclectus</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-capped lory</span> Species of bird

The black-capped lory also known as western black-capped lory or the tricolored lory, is a parrot found in New Guinea and adjacent smaller islands. It is a colourful and relatively robust lory. There are seven subspecies, all with green wings, red heads and body around the wing, a black cap, grey-black cere, yellow underwings, and blue legs and belly. Most also have a blue nape and mantle. It remains overall widespread and common, but the subspecies cyanuchen is relatively rare, with fewer than 5,000 individuals remaining.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-eared lory</span> Species of bird

The blue-eared lory is a parrot found only on the island of Seram in Maluku province, Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-naped parrot</span> Species of bird

The blue-naped parrot, also known as the blue-crowned green parrot, Luzon parrot, the Philippine green parrot, and locally known as pikoy, is a parrot found throughout the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-streaked lory</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple-crowned lorikeet</span> Species of bird

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.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violet-necked lory</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-bellied parrot</span> Species of bird

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<i>Eos</i> (bird) Genus of birds

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, most within very restricted ranges. They have predominantly red plumage with blue, purple or black markings. Males and females are similar in appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talaud Islands Regency</span> Northernmost place and regency in Indonesia

The Talaud Islands Regency is a regency of North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. The Talaud Islands form an archipelago situated to the north-east of Sulawesi, with a land area of 1,251.02 km2. It had a population of 83,434 at the 2010 Census, increasing to 94,521 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 95,545. The largest island is Karakelong, on which lies the regency seat in the town of Melonguane. To its south lie the islands of Salibabu and Kabaruan, while the Nanusa group lies to the northeast of Karakelong, and Miangas island is situated midway between Karakelong and the Philippines. It is one of the three regencies to the north of North Sulawesi that are located between Sulawesi and the Philippines, along with the Sitaro Islands Regency and Sangihe Islands Regency; originally these formed a single regency, but on 110 April 2002 the Talaud Islands were split off to form their own Regency. The island of Miangas is the most northerly island in the regency and widely regarded as the northernmost point of Indonesia. As the result, it is often referenced to describe the territorial integrity of Indonesia in various patriotic statements and songs together with Sabang, Merauke, and Rote Island.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2016). "Eos histrio". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22684502A93032979. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684502A93032979.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. 1 2 3 "Red-and-blue lory videos, photos and facts - Eos histrio". ARKive. Archived from the original on 2016-02-05. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  4. "Parrots, cockatoos – IOC World Bird List" . Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  5. 1 2 Hume, J. P.; Walters, M. (2012). Extinct Birds. A & C Black. ISBN   978-1408157251.
  6. Forshaw, J.; Knight, F. (2017). Vanished and Vanishing Parrots: Profiling Extinct and Endangered Species. CSIRO. pp. 132–136. ISBN   9780643096325.
  7. "Subspecies Updates – IOC World Bird List" . Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Trust, World Parrot. "Red-and-blue Lory (Eos histrio) | Parrot Encyclopedia". www.parrots.org. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Red-and-blue Lory (Eos histrio) - BirdLife species factsheet". www.birdlife.org. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Lexicon of Parrots". www.arndt-verlag.com. Retrieved 2016-03-03.