Trichoglossus haematodus
Trichoglossus haematodus
The coconut lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus Linnaeus, 1771) is a bird belonging to the Psittaculidae family.
Systematics –
Domain Eukaryota,
Kingdom Animalia,
Phylum Chordata,
Subphylum Vertebrata,
Class Aves,
Subclass Neognathus,
Order Psittaciformes,
Superfamily Psittacoidea,
Family Psittaculidae,
Subfamily Loriinae,
Tribe Loriini,
Genus Trichoglossus,
Species T. haematodus.
The following subspecies are recognized within the species:
– Psittacus haematodus Linnaeus, 1771.
The following subspecies are recognized within the species:
– Trichoglossus haematodus nigrogularis Gray, 1858;
– Trichoglossus haematodus massena Bonaparte, 1854;
– Trichoglossus haematodus nesophilus Neumann, 1929;
– Trichoglossus haematodus flavicans Cabanis & Reichenow, 1876;
– Trichoglossus haematodus deplanchii Verreaux, J & Des Murs, 1860.
Le altre sottospecie che venivano considerate in passato oggi sono considerate specie a parte.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The haematodus parrot is a common parrot found in the South Moluccas, from western New Guinea to the Loyalty Islands.
This bird is found mainly in eastern Indonesia, in Buru, Seram, Misool, Waigeo, Numfoor, Yapen, and the Aru Islands, in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, in the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia.
This species occupies a wide range of lowland and hilly wooded habitats, including mangroves, rainforest, nypa forest, swamps, savannah, and woodlands. It is also found in cultivated areas, including coconut groves, gardens, farmland, and disturbed forests. It is found from sea level to 2,440 m; this maximum altitude varies depending on the location.
In general, in its range, it is very widespread and lives in practically all types of habitats where there are abundant flowers, given that it feeds mainly on nectar and pollen.
Description –
The Trichoglossus haematodus is characterized by a varied color distribution, although this species has a green back and a red breast with clearly defined dark stripes.
The bill is red-orange and the head is dark blue, fading to brown on the neck. It has a yellow collar and green upperparts. The breast is red with blue-black bars, and the belly is green with yellow bars.
The tail is green on the upper part and barred with green and yellow on the lower part.
The male’s iris is bright red, while the female’s is red-orange.
It can reach a length (from head to tail) of about 25-30 centimeters and weighs about 109-137 grams. It is often confused with the rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), which has a blue belly and lacks dark stripes on its breast.
They typically make a very loud noise during flight, emitting shrill calls (e.g., “pau-pau-pau”) at regular intervals.
Biology –
The Trichoglossus haematodus is highly sought after by breeders as it breeds well. However, it displays territorial marking, especially during breeding.
This parrot lives in all its habitats, particularly rainforests, coastal scrub, and wooded areas, forming flocks of 5 to 20 individuals.
In captivity, they are like any other bird; they require care to gain confidence and become very affectionate and attached to people.
They are very friendly and playful birds, so they need enough space to avoid stress. However, they are not very friendly with other parrots because they are territorial, potentially resulting in aggression towards other parrots.
They are a monogamous species, meaning they mate with a single partner for life.
These birds can breed throughout most of the year, depending on the region. However, the most suitable period is between July and December, with only one clutch per year, sometimes two.
It nests in tree cavities, laying an average of two white eggs, which are incubated for 23 to 26 days.
The parents feed the chicks for 7–8 weeks, after which they leave the nest and after another 2–3 weeks become fully independent.
Ecological Role –
In 1758, the English naturalist George Edwards described this species in his work “Gleanings of Natural History.” He had obtained a stuffed specimen from a Chinese warehouse in London, which had been brought from the East Indies. In 1760, the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson included a description of this species in his “Ornithologie,” based on a specimen collected on the island of Ambon in Indonesia. He used the French name “La perruche variée d’Amboine” and the Latin name “Psittaca amboinensis varia.” Although Brisson coined Latin names, they do not conform to the binomial system and are not recognized by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.
Recognizing that both previous authors had written about the same species, Carl Linnaeus formally described the coconut lorikeet in 1771 as Psittacus haematod.(us). He abbreviated the name to prevent it from extending to the next line. This abbreviated form was used for many years. The specific epithet derives from the Ancient Greek haimatōdēs, meaning “blood-red.” Hence the translation of its binomial name: “bloody hair-tongue.”
For many years, the species was broadly defined, with 20 or 22 recognized subspecies, and was known as the rainbow lorikeet. This name has been reapplied to the eastern Australian populations, now classified as a distinct species, Trichoglossus moluccanus. The sunset lorikeet (T. forsteni), the leaf lorikeet (T. weberi), the marigold lorikeet (T. capistratus), the red-collared lorikeet (T. rubritorquis), and the Biak lorikeet (T. rosenbergii) are also recognized as distinct species.
The haematodus lorikeet is a predominantly frugivorous bird, supplementing its diet with insects and seeds.
These birds have a small brush on the tip of their specialized tongue, which is actually the extended lingual papilla. With the help of their tongue, they are able to feed on nectar and pollen from flowers. They feed primarily on nectar and pollen, but also on some flowers, seeds, fruit, berries, insects, and larvae.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– C. Battisti, D. Taffon, F. Giucca, 2008. Atlas of Breeding Birds, Gangemi Editore, Rome.
– L. Svensson, K. Mullarney, D. Zetterstrom, 1999. Guide to the Birds of Europe, North Africa, and the Near East, HarperCollins Publishers, UK.
Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/463732565/original.jpg
– https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Trichoglossus_haematodus_nigrogularis.jpg