Violet-necked Lory Eos squamata Scientific name definitions

27 cm. Red; bill orange; collar violet-blue, broad in some birds, absent in others; belly to undertail-coverts dark purplish blue; scapulars purple tipped black; greater wing-coverts and flight-feathers edged black; tail purple-red above, brownish red below; legs grey. Immature has underparts red with purplish edging. Race riciniata has violet collar usually extending from breast up onto hindcrown, red scapulars; obiensis has black scapulars.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Lowland forest and forest edge, mangroves, disturbed forest and scrubby secondary growth adjacent to cultivation, coconut plantations; also montane primary forest up to 1220 m.

Daily movements between main islands and small offshore islets noted; also noted to form large flocks, a habit which can make it common in one area and rare in another, suggesting some form of larger-scale nomadism.

Flowering sago palm Metroxylon, unripe figs (Ficus), nectar of Erythrina flowers.

Repertoire quite extensive. In flight, utters a disyllabic “ksi-leet!” or similar. When perched, calls include short metallic notes, high-pitched hissing notes, short flat-pitched whistles, nasal screeches and shriller notes. Also utters series of a repeated single short note, either well-spaced or in a fast sequences.

No information from wild. In captivity: two eggs; incubation c. 27 days; nestling period c. 80 days.

Not globally threatened. CITES II. A BirdLife “restricted-range” species. A range of 70,700–435,080 birds was estimated for the population of the N Moluccas, but survey work in 1990s gave figures of 115,400–283,700 for proposed Lalobata reserve (Halmahera) alone; around 2980 birds are estimated to have been trapped in 1991, suggesting that trade pressure is not excessively high, but it has been recommended that a biologically safe rate of annual offtake should be established.