Range: on all mountainous islands of the Solomon group as well as Bougainville, Papua New Guinea
Charmosyna meeki
Location
general plumage green; breast, abdomen, under tail-coverts as well as under wing-coverts yellowish-green; crown dull greyish-blue; lower back strongly tinged olive-brown; lower ear-coverts and sides to nape pale green streaked with green; underside of secondaries variably marked with whitish-yellow stripe; tail upperside dark green with broad yellow tips, underside bright yellow; narrow periophthalmic ring dark grey; iris yellow to orange; feet orange.
Female as male.
Immatures with brownish base to bill and shorter tail.
Length: 6.25 ins
Description
general plumage green; breast, abdomen, under tail-coverts as well as under wing-coverts yellowish-green; crown dull greyish-blue; lower back strongly tinged olive-brown; lower ear-coverts and sides to nape pale green streaked with green; underside of secondaries variably marked with whitish-yellow stripe; tail upperside dark green with broad yellow tips, underside bright yellow; narrow periophthalmic ring dark grey; iris yellow to orange; feet orange.
Female as male.
Immatures with brownish base to bill and shorter tail.
Length: 6.25 ins
Location
Distribution: on all mountainous islands of the Solomon group as well as Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Habitat: rain and cloud forest of more mountainous interior of islands from 1,000 ft; seldom above 4,000 ft on Bougainville, but can occur up to 5,700 ft.
Aviculture
Aviculture: unknown; keeping and diet probably similar to Palm Lorikeet (Charmosyna palmarum).
Social Behavior: usually seen in flocks of 10 to 15 birds; prefers tops of tall trees; mostly flies immediately above canopy or between branches in upper storey; often associates with Duchess Lory (Charmosyna margarethae) when foraging in flowering trees; then large gatherings possible; otherwise shy and inconspicuous; flight swift and direct; call high-pitched screech similar to Red-flanked Lory (Charmosyna placentis) but slightly softer and shorter.
Diet
Natural diet: nectar, flowers, pollen and probably also juicy fruits; vegetable matter; observed feeding on flowers of Syzygium, Metrosideros and Mearnsia.
