Swainson’s Blue Mountain Lory (T.h. moluccanus) perched on vertical branch
Credit: © Steve Milpacher
Species Profile
Genus:Trichoglossus
Species:haematodus
| Size: |
Adult Weight: |
| 26cm (10 in) |
100-157g (3.5-5.5 oz) |
Races including nominate:twenty:
T.h. haematodus, T.h. mitchellii, T.h. forsteni, T.h. septentrionalis, T.h. djampeanus, T.h. stresemanni, T.h. fortis, T.h. weberi, T.h. capistratus, T.h. flavotectus, T.h. rosenbergii, T.h. nigrogularis, T.h. intermedius, T.h. micropteryx, T.h. caeruleiceps, T.h. flavicans, T.h. nesophilus, T.h. massena, T.h. deplanchii, T.h. moluccanus
Colourization Adult: T.h. haematodus: both adults brown/black head with lilac/blue streaks on face; collar yellow/green; red breast banded with blue/black; dark green abdomen; green/yellow thighs to undertail coverts; green upperparts and tail; orange underwing coverts; yellow, wide band under the wing. Bill orange/red. Eye dark orange.
T.h. rosenbergii: both adults red band bordering the broad yellow collar; head more evidently streaked lilac/blue; wide purple/blue barring on breast; dark purple abdomen; underwing stripe orange.
T.h. micropteryx: both adults differ from
haematodus by paler body colour; banding on breast narrower; collar more green.
T.h. caeruleiceps: both adults strong lilac/blue streaking on entire crown and sides of head; orange/red breast, thinly barred with blue/black; blue/black upper abdomen; lower abdomen orange/red with more evident blue/black barring.
T.h. nigrogularis: both adults as in
caeruleiceps but larger in size, with blue streaks on head much darker.
T.h. massena: both adults as in
micropteryx, but have strong brown wash on occiput and nape; collar less yellowish; paler red breast with fine bars of blue/black.
T.h. flavicans: both adults have varying plumage with bronze/yellow to dull green upperparts and undertail coverts; collar yellow; red/brown occiput; purple/blue streaked forehead, lores and area around eyes, remainder of head black, with grey/green streaking; bright red breast with minimal barring.
T.h. nesophilus: both adults as in
flavicans but with green upper body, undertail coverts and tail which never vary to bronze/yellow.
T.h. deplanchii: both adults as in
massena but with more blue streaking on head, occiput and nape less brown, and less yellow on thighs to undertail coverts; blue/black markings vary on upper abdomen.
T.h. moluccanus: both adults strong purple/blue streaking on entire head; yellow/orange breast with barring minimal or absent; collar yellow/green; deep purple/blue abdomen.
T.h. septentrionalis: both adults as in
moluccanus, but purple/blue streaking on head brighter; shorter tail.
T.h. rubritorquis: both adults black throat and foreneck with streaking absent; collar wide and orange/red, reaching down sides of neck to connect with orange/red breast; breast barring absent; purple/blue hindneck, with varying red marks; green/black abdomen; underwing band wider.
T.h. flavotectus: both adults green head with purple/blue streaking on forecrown to cheeks; yellow to deep orange variability on breast; collar wide and yellow; dark green to green/black abdomen; yellow underwing coverts with varying orange markings.
T.h. capistratus: both adults as in
flavotectus but with more green collar; breast pale yellow; dark green abdomen.
T.h. weberi: both adults in general green; light green/blue streaking on forehead and lores, the remainder of head streaked with brighter green; yellow/green underwing coverts; smaller in size.
T.h. fortis: both adults black/brown head with purple/blue streaking on forecrown to cheeks; green lores, throat, line above to behind eye and occiput; bright yellow breast with no barring but with orange/red markings; dark green abdomen, with occasional blue/black tints; yellow underwing coverts.
T.h. mitchellii: both adults black/brown head with grey/green streaks on crown to cheeks; red/brown wash on occiput; red breast with minimal or no barring; yellow/green collar; purple/black abdomen; smaller in size.
T.h. forsteni: both adults as in
mitchelli but with darker red breast; purple/blue streaking on forehead and cheeks; more yellow collar bordered on hindneck by purple/blue; purple abdomen; green barring on thighs and flanks minimal; larger in size.
T.h. djampeanus: both adults differ from
forsteni by head being darker and more evidently streaked brighter purple/blue.
T.h. stresemanni: both adults as in
forsteni but with paler orange/red breast; green wash on occiput; feathers of mantle having yellow/orange bases.
Colourization Juvenile: T.h. haematodus: duller than adult. Bill brown/black. Cere and eye ring grey/white, eye brown.
T.h. rosenbergii: as in adults.
T.h. micropteryx: as in adults.
T.h. caeruleiceps: as in adults.
T.h. nigrogularis: as in adults.
T.h. massena: as in adults.
T.h. flavicans: as in adults.
T.h. nesophilus: as in adults.
T.h. deplanchii: as in adults.
T.h. moluccanus: as in adults.
T.h. septentrionalis: as in adults.
T.h. rubritorquis: as in adults.
T.h. flavotectus: as in adults.
T.h. capistratus: as in adults.
T.h. weberi: as in adults.
T.h. fortis: as in adults.
T.h. mitchellii: as in adults.
T.h. forsteni: as in adults.
T.h. djampeanus: as in adults.
T.h. stresemanni: as in adults.
Call: Repeated notes, sharp, rolling while in flight. Shrill chattering while feeding. Soft notes at rest.
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Recent Academic Research: Google Scholar - search results
Content Sources:
Article "Rainbow Lorikeets," by Mike Owen http://www.birdsnways.com/mowen/rainbows.htm
Article "Rainbow Lories in American Aviculture," by Margarethe Warden http://www.lorikeets.com/rainbows.htm
The Online Monograph of the Lories and Lorikeets
CITES http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html
BirdLife International http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=32124&m=0
Internet Bird Collection http://ibc.lynxeds.com/
ML Media Collection Catalogue 82332, Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus, Loetscher, Fred W., Jr., Queensland, Australia, Feb. 5 1969, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1989.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.