Purple-bellied Lory

Purple-bellied Lory 26–27 cm; 137–240 g. Similar to L. lory somu but with cere white, no black on belly, tail distally deep blue-green. Immature has a brownish bill.

Race rosselianus pinker red below, streaked violet; devittatus slightly larger lacks black tips found on greater coverts of underwing innominate.

Editor’s Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Forms a species group with L. Garrulus, L. domicile, and L. lory. The proposed species L. amabilis (Stresemann’s Lory) are probably described as an aberrant individual of the present species from New Britain (devittatus). Three subspecies were recognized.

Editor’s Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the ‘Subspecies’ article above. In the future, we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Coconuts apparently favored, but also make full use of original rain forests, mangroves, forest margins, tall secondary growth, and partially cleared areas, up to 750 m in Bismarcks and up to 1600 m in D’Entrecasteaux Is. Where overlaps with L. lory, more a bird of coastal non-forest vegetation.

Purple-bellied Lory eat Fruit of the characteristic savanna tree Antidesma gaisambulla, flowers of Plerandra, blossoms, or very tiny fruits of coconut trees.

Purple-bellied Lory Voice quite distinctive, a harsh grating nasal note given at intervals, with only slight variations, such as “eeerr-arh” or “rheeeh”.

Purple-bellied Lory Reputedly mid-year, with a nest, placed high in a huge tree.

Not globally threatened. CITES II. Common to abundant throughout its range.