Charmosyna palmarum
(Gmelin 1788)
Palm Lorikeet
German: Palmzierlori
Description: general
plumage green; breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts yellowish-green;
lores, bill area and chin red, but not always clearly visible;
back washed olive-brownish; under wing-coverts greyish-green;
upperside of middle tail-feathers green with broad yellow tip;
outer tail-feathers with narrower yellow tip; underside olive-yellow;
narrow periopthalmic ring dark grey; iris orange; feet orange;
bill orange-red.
Female as male, but with much less or no red to bill
area; olive-brownish back absent; breast and abdomen feathers
less yellowish.
Immatures as female; base to bill dark; iris brown.
Length: 17 cm (7 ins).
Distribution:
New Hebrides and Duff, Santa Cruz and Banks Islands.
Habitat:
forest, mostly in more mountainous interior of islands to at least
1,600 m (5,300 ft); tall secondary vegetation and possibly other
areas with trees; found on Santa Cruz Island at 1,000 m (3,300
ft).
Status:
exact status unknown, probably still common.
Habits:
virtually unknown; usually seen in pairs or small flocks of up
to thirty birds; inconspicuous; only detected by high, shrill
whistling sounds; occasionally also seen in bushes when feeding;
nomadic when foraging.
Natural diet:
nectar, flowers (particularly sago palm Metroxylon rumphii),
juicy fruits, pollen and possibly also insects.
Breeding behaviour:
breeding probably begins October and November; nest with two young
found on Vanatu in December at altitude of 1,600 m (5,300 ft)
in stump of branch 6 m (20 ft) above ground.
Aviculture:
active, fairly quiet parrot seldom found in aviculture; pleasant
nature; pairs very close; susceptible; sudden mortality without
discernible cause (avian malaria believed cause in home areas);
colony system possible with own species; strict hygiene necessary
as susceptible to fungal infection.
Accommodation:
aviary 2.5 x 1 x 2 m (8 x 3 x 6 ft) or very spacious birdroom
cage; minimum temperature 20°C (68°F); not less than
24°C (75°F) during acclimatisation; roosting box 20
x 20 x 40 cm (10 x 10 x 20 ins).
Diet:
lory nectar of thin porridge, honey, pollen, brewer's yeast, vitamins
and mineral supplements; various fruit (especially soft pear,
peach, passion fruit, apple and grape); greenfood; berries (rowan,
pyracanthus and rose-hips).
Breeding in aviculture: unknown.