Musk Lorikeet

(Glossopsitta concinna)

Also known as: Musky Lorikeet, Musk Lory, Green Keet, Keet, Green Leek, Red-crowned Lorikeet, Red-eared Lorikeet, Red-cheeked Lorikeet, Red-cheek, King Parrot

Musk Lorikeet
© Christopher Watson [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons

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This species' name comes from the musky scent that the birds emit.

Academic Research

Related publications: Glossopsitta concinna

Species Profile

Genus: Glossopsitta | Species: concinna

Size:

22cm (8.6 in)

Weight:

60-90g (2.1-3.1 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

Two barely differentiated subspecies: G.c.concinna, G.c. didimus

Colour Adult:

G.c. concinna: Both adults red forehead and eye stripe; blue crown which is duller in female; mantle bronze/brown; sides of breast yellow. Bill red with black at base. Eye orange.
G.c. didimus: Both adults less blue on crown, nearly absent in female.

Colour Juvenile:

G.c. concinna: Duller red and yellow patches. Bill brown. Eye brown.
G.c. didimus: Almost no blue on crown.

Call:

Said to be loud, a rolling metallic screech. Also chattering while feeding.

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More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
Article "Musk Lorikeets," by Kellie Stewart
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998.
ML Media Collection Catalogue 82327, Musk Lorikeet Glosopsitta concinna, Loetscher, Fred W., Jr., Tasmania, March 18 1969, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Site
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1977.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006. 2010 edition
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.

Musk Lorikeet
© Christopher Watson [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

This species' name comes from the musky scent that the birds emit.

Academic Research

Related publications: Glossopsitta concinna

Species Care

Captive Status:

Rare outside Australia, small number in US and UK aviaries.

Longevity:

15-25 yrs

Housing:

Enclosure with drain in floor, or suspended cage over tiled or concrete floor.

Diet:

Nectar - a commercial type specially formulated for small species or a mix of baby cereal (lactose-free) and honey, malt extract or molasses, mixed with filtered water, made fresh once or twice daily, making up at least 40 percent of the diet; vegetables and fruit especially apple, pear, orange, cactus fruits and bananas, and one or more daily of: carrot, fresh corn, green leaves; plus dried figs soaked in water for a few hours, spray millet and a small amount of soaked or sprouted sunflower seed and small amount of canary seed.

Enrichment:

Loves baths so provide overhead misters or shallow water bowls ; noise makers, bird safe chew toys (fir, pine, willow or elder branches, heat sterilized pine cones, vegetable tanned leather lacing and shapes), non-destructibles in bird safe plastic (marbella, acrylic, non-pvc plastic).

Nest Box Size:

20 x 20 x 40cm (7.8 x 7.8 x 15.6 in) vertical box.

Clutch Size:

Incubation Time:

22-24 days

Fledging Age:

7 weeks

Hatch Weight:

Not recorded.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Specialist Club:

Lory Link

Musk Lorikeet
© Christopher Watson [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

This species' name comes from the musky scent that the birds emit.

Academic Research

Related publications: Glossopsitta concinna

Species Wild Status

World Population:

Unknown, stable.

IUCN Red List Status:

Least Concern

CITES Listing:

Appendix II

Threat Summary:

Not globally threatened. Very common throughout its mainland Australian range except in the alpine region.

Range:

G.c. concinna: SE Australia from SE Queensland to SE South Australia, including Kangaroo Island.
G.c. didimus: Tasmania, sometimes King Island. Small feral population in Perth.

Habitat:

Occurs in many areas from open forest to woodland, cultivated and suburban areas, Eucalyptus forest, dry forest, rainforest and riverine woodland. Avoids tall open forest. Up to 1600m (5248 ft).

Wild Diet:

Diet includes nectar, pollen, blossoms, especially eucalypts; small fruits, seeds, young shoots and buds of Callistemon citrinus, Grevillea robusta and Angophora and occasionally insects. May take sorghum crops.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Nomadic according to season; relies heavily on flowering Eucalyptus species, may be encountered in large flocks of a hundred or more individuals. Pairs strongly bond. May also socialize with other Glossopsitta lorikeets and Swift Parrots (Lathamus discolor).

Clutch and Egg Size:

2 rounded eggs, 24.5 x 20.0mm (1 x 0.8 in).

Breeding Season:

August-January; nest is in hollow limb or tree cavity.

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

This species' name comes from the musky scent that the birds emit.

Academic Research

Related publications: Glossopsitta concinna

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