Stella’s Lorikeet (Charmosyna stellae)

Stella's Lorikeet, ssp goliathina, Loro Parque
© Drägüs - Own work [Public Domain] via Wikimedia

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Did You Know?

Stella’s Lorikeet has a melanistic phase, whereby its plumage is replaced with varying light/dark black tones.

Academic Research

Related publications: Charmosyna stellae

Species Profile

Genus: Charmosyna | Species: stellae

Size:

25cm (9.75 in)

Weight:

90-115g (3.1-4 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

three: C.s. stellae, C.s. goliathina, C.s. wahnesi

Colour Adult:

C.s. stellae: (Has melanistic phase, where red is replaced with black) male-black patch reaching from occiput to hindneck and streaked in front with purple/blue; black lower flanks, yellow absent; yellow on sides of breast absent; centre tail feathers elongated and widely tipped with yellow/orange. Female-as in male but lower back and sides of rump yellow.
C.s. goliathina: (Has melanistic phase) both adults as in stellae, but with long central tail feathers widely tipped with yellow.
C.s. wahnesi: (Has melanistic phase) both adults as in stellae, but with broad yellow band across upper abdomen.

Colour Juvenile:

C.s. stellae: In general duller than adults; with black margins on feathers of neck and breast; yellow underwing band in varying proportions; elongated tips to central tail feathers absent.
C.s. goliathina: As in adults.
C.s. wahnesi: As in adults.

Call:

Are described as distinctive; in flight are loud and slurred in upward inflection; also quieter, mellower screech. When feeding or at rest emits a nasal, long note increasing in volume.

More Information:

Avibase
Research: Improved systematics of lorikeets reflects their evolutionary history and frames conservation priorities

Content Sources:

BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
Parrots in Aviculture, R. Low, 1992.

Stella's Lorikeet, ssp goliathina, Loro Parque
© Drägüs - Own work [Public Domain] via Wikimedia

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

Stella’s Lorikeet has a melanistic phase, whereby its plumage is replaced with varying light/dark black tones.

Academic Research

Related publications: Charmosyna stellae

Species Care

Captive Status:

Rare.

Longevity:

15+ years.

Housing:

Aviary with concrete, sloping floor towards drain, or suspended enclosure over concrete base.

Diet:

Nectar, either a commercial type or homemade from baby cereal (lactose-free), honey and malt extract or molasses, mixed with filtered water and made fresh daily; fruit (once or twice daily) such as: apple, pear, banana, orange, cactus fruits; vegetables such as: carrot, fresh corn on the cob or unsalted tinned sweet corn, green leaves such as Swiss chard, lettuce or dandelion; rearing food made from hard-boiled egg, wholegrain bread and carrot, all ground to a crumbly consistency.

Enrichment:

Avid bathers, provide water bowls or spray misters once a day; socialization; large enclosure for daily flights. Also provide swings, ladders and other toys, all easy to clean, to appeal to the acrobatic nature of this species.

Nest Box Size:

Vertical box 6" x 6" x 12" (15.2cm x 15.2cm x 30.5cm).

Clutch Size:

2

Incubation Time:

26 days or more.

Fledging Age:

About 7-8 weeks.

Hatch Weight:

4g.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Stella's Lorikeet, ssp goliathina, Loro Parque
© Drägüs - Own work [Public Domain] via Wikimedia

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

Stella’s Lorikeet has a melanistic phase, whereby its plumage is replaced with varying light/dark black tones.

Academic Research

Related publications: Charmosyna stellae

Species Wild Status

World Population:

Not recorded.

IUCN Red List Status:

Least Concern

CITES Listing:

Appendix II (as congener of Charmosyna papou)

Threat Summary:

Reported to be fairly common but skins are greatly prized as head decorations by highland people and are often traded.

Range:

C.s. stellae: Mountains of E Papua New Guinea, west to Angabunga River and Herzog Mountains.
C.s. goliathina: Mountains of western and central New Guinea, from head of Geelvink Bay, Irian Jaya, east to C Papua New Guinea.
C.s. wahnesi: Mountains of Huon Peninsula, N Papua New Guinea.

Habitat:

Seen in montane forest up to 1800–3500m, occasionally as low as 1400m, including in disturbed Nothofagus-Podocarpus forest.

Wild Diet:

Seen feeding on blossoms, flower buds, pollen, soft fruit of Schefflera and other trees. Also recorded foraging for small seeds and insects (possibly ingested accidentally).

Ecology and Behaviour:

Usually observed singly or in pairs, and can be aggressive towards other lorikeets. Numbers appear to wax and wane with local food supply, suggesting a degree of local nomadism.

Clutch and Egg Size:

2 eggs

Breeding Season:

Young birds seen October–November.

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

Stella’s Lorikeet has a melanistic phase, whereby its plumage is replaced with varying light/dark black tones.

Academic Research

Related publications: Charmosyna stellae

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