Fairy lorikeet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fairy lorikeet
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittaculidae
Genus:	Charmosynopsis
Species:	C. pulchella
Binomial name
Charmosynopsis pulchella (Gray, GR, 1859)
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The fairy lorikeet is a super colorful parrot! Its scientific name is Charmosynopsis pulchella. It belongs to the Psittaculidae family, which includes many types of parrots. People also call it the little red lorikeet or the little red lory.

You can find these tiny birds in New Guinea. They love living in warm, wet forests, both in lowlands and on mountains. They are mostly red, with some yellow on their throat and green wings. There are two slightly different kinds, called subspecies: C. p. pulchella and C. p. rothschildi.

Understanding the Fairy Lorikeet's Name

Scientists first officially described the fairy lorikeet in 1859. An English zoologist named George Robert Gray gave it the scientific name Charmosyna pulchella.

Later, in 2020, scientists studied the birds' DNA. They found that the fairy lorikeet was a bit different from other birds in its original group. So, they moved it to a new, older group called Charmosynopsis. This is how scientists keep track of different animal families.

What Does a Fairy Lorikeet Look Like?

The fairy lorikeet is a small bird. It grows to about 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. It weighs between 24 and 34 grams (less than 2 ounces). That's about as much as a few strawberries!

Male and Female Differences

The male C. p. pulchella has a red head, neck, chest, and belly. Sometimes, its chest has yellow streaks. There's a purplish spot on the back of its head. Its back and wings are dark green. The top of its tail is green with yellow tips, and the middle tail feathers are red near the ends. The underside of its tail is yellow. Its beak is orange, and its eyes are yellowish-orange.

The female C. p. pulchella looks similar to the male. But her lower back is yellowish-green. She also has yellow on the sides of her bottom and flanks.

Differences in Subspecies

The male C. p. rothschildi is a bit different. Its chest is green with yellow streaks. The dark spot on its head is bigger. It reaches forward to the eye and fades into the green back. The top of its tail feathers are washed with yellow. Its belly is dark purple.

The female C. p. rothschildi has a wide green band on her chest. This band has yellow streaks. She also has a greenish-yellow patch on the side of her bottom.

Where Do Fairy Lorikeets Live?

The fairy lorikeet lives on the island of New Guinea.

Specific Locations

The C. p. pulchella subspecies lives in the mountains. You can find it from the Vogelkop Peninsula in the west. It also lives eastwards to the Huon Peninsula and the southeastern part of the island. You can also find it in the Fakfak Mountains on the Bomberai Peninsula.

The C. p. rothschildi subspecies lives in north and central New Guinea. It is found in the Cyclops Mountains and other nearby mountain ranges.

Fairy Lorikeet Life and Habits

Fairy lorikeets likely eat pollen and nectar. They find this food from flowers high up in the forest canopy. They are often seen near Melicope trees.

Reproduction and Nesting

Scientists have seen fairy lorikeets breeding in December, January, and April. They often make their nests in a hole. This hole is usually at the base of a plant that grows on another plant, called an epiphytic plant.

A female fairy lorikeet usually lays one or two eggs. She sits on the eggs to keep them warm for about 25 days.

What is the Fairy Lorikeet's Conservation Status?

The fairy lorikeet lives across a large area. It is common in many places. However, it is less common in other areas. This is because some people collect them for the pet trade.

The number of fairy lorikeets seems to be stable. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) checks on animals around the world. They have said the fairy lorikeet is of "least concern". This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.