The Eos genus
The Eos genus contains six species (or seven if taxonomists decide to separate obiensis) of medium to large-sized lories, all of which are red with black and blue or mauve markings. All are Indonesian island species, thus are vulnerable to habitat destruction and overtrapping for trade. Their status ranges from fairly common to threatened to endangered or critically endangered. Their avicultural status varies from common to rare to almost unknown. They nest readily in captivity and every member of the genus could be maintained indefinitely within aviculture in the hands of competent aviculturists. In aviaries, they accept a wide range of foods and are less dependent on a nectar substitute than most other lories.
In terms of evolutionary relationship, they are close to Pseudeos, Lorius and Chalcopsitta. In the streaking of nape and mantle, and in its profile, which is more streamlined than other members of the genus, the blue-streaked (E. reticulata) seems close to the genus Chalcopsitta. Smith states that "Eos was solely determined because members had red on their wings" and argues that is cannot be sustained against Lorius except for the comparative differences in tail and wing length, in consequence of the limited nomadism of Eos against the more sedentary nature of Lorius.
I have compared young chicks (under about seven days of age) of Eos bornea and Lorius lory; apart from the fray forehead down which is a feature of the latter species, I can find absolutely no difference between them.
Literature
- Low, R (1998): Hancock House Encyclopedia of the Lories. (207) Hancock House Publishers Ltd.