The musk lorikeet (''Glossopsitta concinna'') is a
lorikeet, now the only species in the genus ''Glossopsitta''.
It inhabits south-central/eastern
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. 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
Port Jackson, commonly known as Sydney Harbour, is a natural harbour on the east coast of Australia, around which Sydney was built. It consists of the waters of Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour and the Lane Cove and Parramatta ...
in what is now Sydney.
John Latham described it as ''Psittacus australis''. Its specific epithet is the
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
''concinna'' "elegant". Other common names include red-eared lorikeet, and green keet,
[Lendon, p. 23] 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.
[
]
Description
The musk lorikeet is 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 and habitat
Musk lorikeets are found in eastern New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
, Victoria, South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
and Tasmania
Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...
.
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.
Urban influence
Musk lorikeets are one of the few animals with the plasticity to survive and thrive in rapid urbanization. Over the past 30 years, flocks of musk lorikeets have been adopting Australia's cities, such as Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
and Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
.
The partial reason for musk lorikeets' move to, and success in, urban areas is the planting of various nectar-producing plants throughout the city. They have evolved to consume nectar as a part of their major food source and can be found foraging in the blooming canopies of eucalyptus
''Eucalyptus'' () is a genus of more than 700 species of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae. Most species of ''Eucalyptus'' are trees, often Mallee (habit), mallees, and a few are shrubs. Along with several other genera in the tribe Eucalyp ...
forests.[Smith & Lill 2008]
Unlike their natural habitat, the city plants are regularly maintained and so they have become a more reliable food source. Because the nectar plants tend to be most dense in the outer urban areas, most of the population prefers the outer urban areas, which allows for more feeding and roosting opportunities, rather than the inner ones. Although, there have been sightings of these lorikeets in the inner city regions but in reduced numbers; most likely from reduced vegetation.[Davis, Taylor & Major 2012]
The only Australian nectarivore to not have a preference between the inner city and outer urban zones is the rainbow lorikeet.
Breeding
The musk lorikeet breeds mainly from August to January.[Morcombe, Michael (2012) ''Field Guide to Australian Birds.'' Pascal Press, Glebe, NSW. Revised edition. ] The nest is usually built in a hollow limb high in a tree. Two white eggs are laid and incubated for 22 days by the female.
Gallery
Musk Lorikeet cunninghams.ogv, thumbtime=1, Video: Cunninghams Gap, Queensland
Glossopsitta concinna -Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia-8 (1).jpg, Feeding on a desert ash in Bendigo.
Musk Lorikeet yy - Christopher Watson.jpg, Feeding on a flowering gum in a park in Cheltenham, Victoria
References
Cited texts
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Birds of Australia
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q608087
musk lorikeet
Birds of Queensland
Birds of New South Wales
Birds of Victoria (state)
Birds of South Australia
Birds of Tasmania
Endemic birds of Australia
Lorini
musk lorikeet
Articles containing video clips