indunil
July 10th, 2009, 12:18 PM
Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot - Loriculus beryllinus
Family - Psittacidae
IUCN Category - LR/lc
Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot- Loriculus beryllinus
Local Name Gira Mallitha
It is strictly arboreal, never descending to the ground. Although often solitary, companions are never far away, and it keeps them informed of its movements by constantly uttering, while o the wing, a sharp three-syllabled whistle twiwittwit...twitwitwit. The lorikeet is a convivial little bird, delighting in juicy fruits, the nectar of flowers(especially dadap and red cotton), and the juice of palms collected in toddy-drawers' pots.
The lorikeet breeds in the first half of the year, and sometimes again in July-September. Its breeding habits are highly remarkable. The eggs are white and nearly spherical, measuring about 19.3 X 16 mm.
This brilliantly-coloured little parrot is found everywhere in the hills up to 4,000 feet, and in the north-east monsoon it ascends a thousand feet higher; it also inhabits the low-country wet zone and parts of the dry zone to the south of the Northern Province.
Sexes alike, but the female is duller, coloured than the male, and has only a trace of pale-blue throat-patch; young birds have the head all green, but otherwise resemble their parents.
More Reading
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1516&m=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka_Hanging_Parrot
Family - Psittacidae
IUCN Category - LR/lc
Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot- Loriculus beryllinus
Local Name Gira Mallitha
It is strictly arboreal, never descending to the ground. Although often solitary, companions are never far away, and it keeps them informed of its movements by constantly uttering, while o the wing, a sharp three-syllabled whistle twiwittwit...twitwitwit. The lorikeet is a convivial little bird, delighting in juicy fruits, the nectar of flowers(especially dadap and red cotton), and the juice of palms collected in toddy-drawers' pots.
The lorikeet breeds in the first half of the year, and sometimes again in July-September. Its breeding habits are highly remarkable. The eggs are white and nearly spherical, measuring about 19.3 X 16 mm.
This brilliantly-coloured little parrot is found everywhere in the hills up to 4,000 feet, and in the north-east monsoon it ascends a thousand feet higher; it also inhabits the low-country wet zone and parts of the dry zone to the south of the Northern Province.
Sexes alike, but the female is duller, coloured than the male, and has only a trace of pale-blue throat-patch; young birds have the head all green, but otherwise resemble their parents.
More Reading
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1516&m=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka_Hanging_Parrot