The Lorius genus
The Lorius is made up of the larger size lories. All members of this genus are unmistakable: large, stocky lories with longish, broad tails. All species have the wings green, and red predominates in the body plumage. They are handsome birds. In immature plumage, in most (or all?) species, the greater underwing coverts (the outermost feathers only) are broadly tipped with black. this is confirmed in domicellus, lory and chlorocercus. According to their plumage, Lorius can be divided into two groups: (1) the black-capped species: purple naped, black capped, purple bellied, white naped and yellow bibbed; (2) the single species without the black cap, the chattering (yellow-backed) lory.
These lories originate from New Guinea and surrounding islands, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. In aviculture, the chattering and the black-capped are well known and cherished. One species, the purple-naped, is rare. The yellow-bibbed was almost unknown until the 1980s, but its numbers are increasing. The purple-bellied is almost unknown outside New Guinea and the white-naped has never been in aviculture. The Lorius species are exceptionally attractive aviary birds but their loud voices may deter some people from keeping these otherwise desirable lories. They make excellent pets, and some become good mimics. If kept singly they need plenty of attention to compensate for the lack of a partner of their own kind. They are highly intelligent and playful and will make use of every kind of swing or toy provided. Unlike some lories, they need at least 20 to 30 percent solid foods (fruits and vegetables and even a few sunflower seeds) in their diet, in addition to nectar.
Literature
- Low, R (1998): Hancock House Encyclopedia of the Lories. (166) Hancock House Publishers Ltd.