The avifauna of Biak Island, Papua, Indonesia with comments on status, conservation, natural history and taxonomy
Author
Bishop, K. David
text
Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club
2023
2023-03-06
143
1
3
62
journal article
298463
10.25226/bboc.v143i1.2023.a2
6028cf6b-e944-40d1-b774-7caa1c970409
2513-9894
11642130
805136AB-F3FE-4C77-85AC-E37423156B6D
RED-FRONTED LORIKEET
Charmosyna rubronotata
#
Range
C. r. kordoana
Biak, Supiori.
Status
Endemic subspecies. Obtained by three collectors including Ripley. During
July 1982
KDB observed it commonly, invariably in flocks of ten to
c
.30, in flowering trees and coconuts both on Biak and Supiori (up to
c.
350 m
).
Gibbs (1993)
found it in large flocks at flowering trees near Korrido, Supiori. Subsequently, very few visitors have reported the species, but they have seemingly mistaken it for the very similar Red-flanked Lorikeet
C. placentis
. The endemic subspecies
C. r. kordoana
is very similar to
C. placentis
and records of the latter require verification. M. Halaouate (
in litt
. 2021) noted it is still widespread especially in the remaining forests in northern Biak. It has been seen feeding on coconut blooms and on the nectar of flowering Malayan Apple
Syzygium malaccense
with Black-capped Lory
Lorius lory
, Black-winged Lory
Eos cyanogenia
and Red-cheeked Parrot
Geoffroyus geoffroyi
.