Black lory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black lory |
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| At Gembira Loka Zoo, Yogyakarta | |
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Psittacus ater Scopoli, 1786 |
The black lory (scientific name: Chalcopsitta atra) is a cool, medium-sized parrot. It's mostly black, with a black beak and dark grey feet. Look closely, and you'll see its long, rounded tail has bright yellow and red colors underneath! Both male and female black lories look very similar. These birds live naturally in West Papua, which is part of Indonesia.
Good news for the black lory! Experts say it's a "Least Concern" species. This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing. It's also listed under CITES, which helps control the trade of wild animals to protect them.
What Does a Black Lory Look Like?
The black lory is about 32 centimeters (12.5 inches) long. That's about the length of a ruler! It has a strong black beak. Most of its feathers are black, but it has a pretty blue patch on its lower back, called the rump.
You might also spot some red markings on its face, upper legs (thighs), and tail. These red marks can look a bit different depending on which type of black lory it is. Both male and female black lories look almost exactly the same.
Where Do Black Lories Come From?
The black lory was first officially named by a scientist named Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1786. He learned about the bird from descriptions written by an explorer named Pierre Sonnerat. Sonnerat had written about his travels to New Guinea.
Scientists have found that there are three different kinds, or subspecies, of the black lory. They all live in different parts of Indonesia.
Different Types of Black Lories
- Chalcopsitta atra atra (Scopoli, 1786): This type lives in the western part of the Bird's Head Peninsula in West Papua, Indonesia. It also lives on some nearby islands.
- Chalcopsitta atra bernsteini (Rosenberg, 1861): You can find this type on the Indonesian island of Misool.
- Chalcopsitta atra insignis (Oustalet, 1878): This type lives on the eastern side of the Bird's Head Peninsula. It also lives on nearby islands and the Onin and Bomberai Peninsulas in West Papua.
