Musk Lorikeet
Encyclopedia
The Musk Lorikeet is a lorikeet, one of the three species of the Glossopsitta
genus. It inhabits south-central/eastern Australia
. The Musk Lorikeet was first described by ornithologist George Shaw
in 1790 as Psittacus concinnus, from a collection in the vicinity of Port Jackson
in what is now Sydney. John Latham
described it as Psittacus australis. Its specific epithet is the Latin
concinna "elegant". Other common names include Red-eared Lorikeet, and Green Keet, 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.
Range: Uncommon nomad in woodlands and drier forests in south-east mainland, mainly west of divide, and TAS.
Glossopsitta
Glossopsitta is a genus of parrot in the Psittacidae family. They are native to Australia.-Taxonomy:There are three species:Glossopsitta Bonaparte 1854*Glossopsitta concinna...
genus. It inhabits south-central/eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Musk Lorikeet was first described by ornithologist George Shaw
George Shaw
George Shaw was an English botanist and zoologist.Shaw was born at Bierton, Buckinghamshire and was educated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, receiving his M.A. in 1772. He took up the profession of medical practitioner. In 1786 he became the assistant lecturer in botany at Oxford University...
in 1790 as Psittacus concinnus, from a collection in the vicinity of Port Jackson
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
in what is now Sydney. John Latham
John Latham (ornithologist)
John Latham was an English physician, naturalist and author. He was born at Eltham in Kent, and was the eldest son of John Latham, a surgeon there, and his mother was a descendant of the Sothebys, in Yorkshire....
described it as Psittacus australis. Its specific epithet is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
concinna "elegant". Other common names include Red-eared Lorikeet, and Green Keet, 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 22 cm (8.5 in) 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. The blue area on the crown of the female is smaller and paler than seen on the male.Distribution and habitat
Musk Lorikeets are found in eastern New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.Range: Uncommon nomad in woodlands and drier forests in south-east mainland, mainly west of divide, and TAS.