Loriini Selby, 1836

Loriini is a tribe of small to medium-sized arboreal parrots characterized by their specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar of various blossoms and soft fruits, preferably berries. The species form a monophyletic group within the parrot family Psittaculidae. The group consist of the lories and lorikeets. Traditionally, they were considered a separate subfamily (Loriinae) from the other subfamily (Psittacinae) based on the specialized characteristics, but recent molecular and morphological studies show that the group is positioned in the middle of various other groups. They are widely distributed throughout the Australasian region, including south-eastern Asia, Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Australia, and the majority have very brightly coloured plumage.

Rainbow lorikeet drinking

The ultramarine lorikeet is endangered. It is now one of the 50 rarest birds in the world. The blue lorikeet is classified as vulnerable. The introduction of European rats to the small island habitats of these birds is a major cause of their endangerment.Steadman D, (2006). Extinction and Biogeography in Tropical Pacific Birds, University of Chicago Press. Various conservation efforts have been made to relocate some of these birds to locations free of predation and habitat destruction.

In the wild, rainbow lorikeets feed mainly on pollen and nectar, and possess a tongue adapted especially for their particular diet. Many fruit orchard owners consider them a pest, as they often fly in groups and strip trees containing fresh fruit. They are also frequent visitors at bird feeders that supply lorikeet-friendly treats, such as store-bought nectar, sunflower seeds, and fruits such as apples, grapes and pears. Occasionally they have been observed feeding on meat.

The word "lory" comes from the Malay lūri, a name used for a number of species of colourful parrots. The name was used by the Dutch writer Johan Nieuhof in 1682 in a book describing his travels in the East Indies. The spelling "laurey" was used by English naturalist Eleazar Albin in 1731 for a species of parrot from Brazil, and then in 1751 the English naturalist George Edwards used the spelling "lory" when introducing names for five species of parrot from the East Indies in the fourth volume of his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Edwards credited Nieuhof for the name. The usage of the terms "lory" and "lorikeet" is subjective, like the usage of "parrot" and "parakeet". Species with longer tapering tails are generally referred to as "lorikeets", while species with short blunt tails are generally referred to as "lories".

File:BlackWingedLorikeet.jpg|[[Black-winged lory]] Black lory (Chalcopsitta atra), Gembira Loka Zoo, Yogyakarta 2015-03-15 03.jpg|[[Black lory|Black lories]] File:RainbowLorikeetOregonZoo.jpg|Green-naped lorikeet (subspecies of [[rainbow lorikeet]]) File:Scalybreastedlorikeet.jpg|[[Scaly-breasted lorikeet]] File:Trichoglossus euteles -Indianapolis Zoo -6.jpg|[[Olive-headed lorikeet]] File:Chalcopsitta sintillata -Fuengirola Zoo-8-1c.jpg|[[Yellow-streaked lory]] File:Musk Lorikeet 2.jpg|[[Musk lorikeet]] File:Dusky lory (Pseudeos fuscata), Gembira Loka Zoo, Yogyakarta, 2015-03-15 03.jpg|[[Dusky lory]] File:BlueStreakedLory.jpg|[[Blue-streaked lory]] File:Charmosyna josefinae.jpg|[[Josephine's lorikeet]] File:Stellas Lory 2.jpg|[[Papuan lorikeet]] File:Aus Rainbow Lorikeet cropped.jpg|Australian rainbow lorikeet (subspecies of [[rainbow lorikeet]]) File:Blackcappedlorikeet.jpg|[[Black-capped lory]] at the Cincinnati Zoo File:Lorius_garrulus-20070107.jpg|[[Chattering lory]] at [[Jurong Bird Park]]

A "Lory" famously appears in Chapter III of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice argues with the Lory about its age.

Tongue of a lory

Lories and lorikeets have specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar and soft fruits. They can feed from the flowers of about 5,000 species of plants and use their specialized tongues to take the nectar. The tip of their tongues have tufts of papillae (extremely fine hairs), which collect nectar and pollen. The multi-coloured rainbow lorikeet was one of the species of parrots appearing in the first edition of The Parrots of the World and also in John Gould's lithographs of the Birds of Australia. Then and now, lories and lorikeets are described as some of the most beautiful species of parrot.

Traditionally, lories and lorikeets have either been classified as the subfamily, Loriinae, or as a family on their own, Loriidae, but they are currently classified as a tribe. Neither traditional view is confirmed by molecular studies. Those studies show that the lories and lorikeets form a single group, closely related to the budgerigar and the fig parrots (Cyclopsitta and Psittaculirostris). A comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of the Loriini published in 2020 led to major changes in the generic boundaries. The reorganisation involved the resurrection of four genera: Charminetta, Hypocharmosyna, Charmosynopsis and Glossoptilus, as well as the erection of three entirely new genera: Synorhacma, Charmosynoides and Saudareos. One genus disappeared, as the collared lory, which had previously been placed in the monotypic genus Phigys, was found to be embedded in the genus Vini. The extinct New Caledonian lorikeet, although not sampled, was assumed to be a member of the genus Vini on plumage and biogeographic grounds. The tribe Loriini now contains 61 species divided into 19 genera.



Genera

Image Genus Living Species Oreopsittacus

Plum-faced lorikeet, Oreopsittacus arfaki

Charminetta

Pygmy lorikeet, Charminetta wilhelminae

Hypocharmosyna

Red-fronted lorikeet, Hypocharmosyna rubronotata Red-flanked lorikeet, Hypocharmosyna placentis

Charmosynopsis

Blue-fronted lorikeet, Charmosynopsis toxopei Fairy lorikeet, Charmosynopsis pulchella

Synorhacma

Striated lorikeet, Synorhacma multistriata

Charmosyna

Josephine's lorikeet, Charmosyna josefinae Papuan lorikeet, Charmosyna papou Stella's lorikeet, Charmosyna stellae

Charmosynoides

Duchess lorikeet, Charmosynoides margarethae

Vini

Meek's lorikeet, Vini meeki Red-chinned lorikeet, Vini rubrigularis Palm lorikeet, Vini palmarum Red-throated lorikeet, Vini amabilis † New Caledonian lorikeet, Vini diadema (extinct) Collared lory, Vini solitaria Blue-crowned lorikeet, Vini australis Ultramarine lorikeet, Vini ultramarina Stephen's lorikeet, Vini stepheni Kuhl's lorikeet, Vini kuhlii Blue lorikeet, Vini peruviana

Neopsittacus

Yellow-billed lorikeet, Neopsittacus musschenbroekii Orange-billed lorikeet, Neopsittacus pullicauda

Lorius

White-naped lory, Lorius albidinuchus Yellow-bibbed lory, Lorius chlorocercus Purple-naped lory, Lorius domicella Chattering lory, Lorius garrulus Purple-bellied lory, Lorius hypoinochrous Black-capped lory, Lorius lory

Psitteuteles

Varied lorikeet, Psitteuteles versicolor

Parvipsitta

Purple-crowned lorikeet, Parvipsitta porphyrocephala Little lorikeet, Parvipsitta pusilla

Pseudeos

Dusky lory, Pseudeos fuscata Cardinal lory, Pseudeos cardinalis

Chalcopsitta

Brown lory, Chalcopsitta duivenbodei Black lory, Chalcopsitta atra Yellow-streaked lory, Chalcopsitta sintillata

Glossoptilus

Goldie's lorikeet, Glossoptilus goldiei

Glossopsitta

Musk lorikeet, Glossopsitta concinna

Saudareos

Mindanao lorikeet, Saudareos johnstoniae Iris lorikeet, Saudareos iris Sula lorikeet, Saudareos flavoviridis Yellow-cheeked lorikeet, Saudareos meyeri Ornate lorikeet, Saudareos ornatus

Eos

Blue-streaked lory, Eos reticulata Blue-eared lory, Eos semilarvata Red lory, Eos bornea Black-winged lory, Eos cyanogenia Red-and-blue lory, Eos histrio Violet-necked lory, Eos squamata

Trichoglossus

Pohnpei lorikeet, Trichoglossus rubiginosus Scaly-breasted lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus Coconut lorikeet, Trichoglossus haematodus Biak lorikeet, Trichoglossus rosenbergi Rainbow lorikeet, Trichoglossus moluccanus Red-collared lorikeet, Trichoglossus rubritorquis Olive-headed lorikeet, Trichoglossus euteles Marigold lorikeet, Trichoglossus capestratus Leaf lorikeet, Trichoglossus weberi Sunset lorikeet, Trichoglossus forsteni