Black Lory (Chalcopsitta atra) Information

Black Lory

 The Black Lory, Chalcopsitta atra also known as Rajah Lory or Red-quilled Lory is a medium-sized, blackish parrot with black bill, dark grey feet and long rounded tail. It has yellow and red under-tail. Both sexes are similar.

The Black Lory is evaluated as Least Concern on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES

Black Lory
image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chalcopsitta_atra_-two_perching-8a.jpg

Black Lory
image source: http://flickr.com/photos/11855960@N03

Taxonomy

The Black Lory genus contains three subspecies:

Chalcopsitta atra (Scopoli) 1786

  •     Chalcopsitta atra atra (Scopoli) 1786, native to western Bird's Head Peninsula of the Indonesian province of West Papua, and nearby islands.
  •     Chalcopsitta atra bernsteini Rosenberg, HKB 1861, on the Indonesian island of Misool.
  •     Chalcopsitta atra insignis Oustalet 1878, on eastern Bird's Head Peninsula, nearby islands, and the Onin and Bomberai Peninsulas of West Papua.



Description

The Black Lory is 32 cm long (12.5 in) and has a black bill. Its plumage is mostly black with a blue rump. Red markings on face, thighs, and tail vary between the three subspecies. Males and females are similar in external appearance.