Sunset Lorikeet
Encyclopedia
The Sunset Lorikeet also known as the Scarlet-breasted Lorikeet or Forsten's Lorikeet, is a species of parrot
that is endemic to the Indonesia
n islands of Bali
, Lombok
Sumbawa
, Tanahjampea (between Sulawesi
and Flores
), and Kalaotoa (between Sulawesi and Flores). It has often been considered a subspecies
of the Rainbow Lorikeet
, but following a review in 1997, it is increasingly treated as a separate species.
In addition to the nominate subspecies from Sumbawa, it includes the subspecies mitchellii ("Mitchell's Lorikeet") from Bali and Lombok, djampeanus ("Djampea Lorikeet") from the small island Tanahjampea, and stresemanni ("Stresemann's Lorikeet") from the small island Kalaotoa.
It is the darkest and arguably most strongly marked member of the Rainbow Lorikeet group, with a dark bluish head that contrasts strongly with a lime green nape and a deep scarlet
(most subspecies) or deep orange (subspecies stresemanni) breast, that again contrasts strongly with the dark bluish belly.
It inhabits forest, woodland and plantations at altitudes below 1200 m. on Sumabwa, but up to 2150 m. on Lombok.
It has not been rated by BirdLife International
and IUCN, where still included in the Rainbow Lorikeet, but its small range combined with extensive habitat destruction
and capture for the parrot trade gives cause for serious concerns. It remains fairly common on Sumbawa, but is scarce or rare elsewhere.
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
that is endemic to the Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n islands of Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, Lombok
Lombok
Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It forms part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east...
Sumbawa
Sumbawa
Sumbawa is an Indonesian island, located in the middle of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, with Lombok to the west, Flores to the east, and Sumba further to the southeast. It is in the province of West Nusa Tenggara....
, Tanahjampea (between Sulawesi
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
and Flores
Flores
Flores is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, an island arc with an estimated area of 14,300 km² extending east from the Java island of Indonesia. The population was 1.831.000 in the 2010 census and the largest town is Maumere. Flores is Portuguese for "flowers".Flores is located east of Sumbawa...
), and Kalaotoa (between Sulawesi and Flores). It has often been considered a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Rainbow Lorikeet
Rainbow Lorikeet
The Rainbow Lorikeet, is a species of Australasian parrot found in Australia, eastern Indonesia , Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In Australia, it is common along the eastern seaboard, from Queensland to South Australia and northwest Tasmania...
, but following a review in 1997, it is increasingly treated as a separate species.
In addition to the nominate subspecies from Sumbawa, it includes the subspecies mitchellii ("Mitchell's Lorikeet") from Bali and Lombok, djampeanus ("Djampea Lorikeet") from the small island Tanahjampea, and stresemanni ("Stresemann's Lorikeet") from the small island Kalaotoa.
It is the darkest and arguably most strongly marked member of the Rainbow Lorikeet group, with a dark bluish head that contrasts strongly with a lime green nape and a deep scarlet
Scarlet (color)
Scarlet is a bright red color with a hue that is somewhat toward the orange. It is redder than vermilion. It is a pure chroma on the color wheel one-fourth of the way between red and orange. Scarlet is sometimes used as the color of flame...
(most subspecies) or deep orange (subspecies stresemanni) breast, that again contrasts strongly with the dark bluish belly.
It inhabits forest, woodland and plantations at altitudes below 1200 m. on Sumabwa, but up to 2150 m. on Lombok.
It has not been rated by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
and IUCN, where still included in the Rainbow Lorikeet, but its small range combined with extensive habitat destruction
Habitat destruction
Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species present. In this process, the organisms that previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Habitat destruction by human activity mainly for the purpose of...
and capture for the parrot trade gives cause for serious concerns. It remains fairly common on Sumbawa, but is scarce or rare elsewhere.