Range: Bismarck Arch. (New Britain and New Ireland) and Karkar I.
Charmosyna rubrigularis
Description
general plumage green; breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts yellowish-green; lower mandible area and chin red, often edged with yellow; ear-coverts bluish-green streaked pale green; under wing-coverts yellowish-green; underside of flight feathers with yellow stripe; tail upperside green with red base and broad yellow tips, underside olive-yellow; narrow periophthalmic ring dark grey; iris orange; feet yellowish orange; bill orange-red.
Female as male, but often with less red to bill area.
Immatures with less red to base of bill and shorter tail.
Length: 17 cm
Status: rare in lowlands, common in mountainous regions.
Location
Distribution: New Britain, New Ireland and Karkar Island off northern coast of New Guinea. remarks: subspecies described as krakari by Rothschild and Hartert in 1915 no longer recognized as more extensive red edged with yellow to chin and throat observed by them varies greatly and also occurs among populations of New Britain and New Ireland.
Habitat: forest, mainly in mountainous interior of islands; tall secondary vegetation and possibly other areas with trees.
Aviculture
Aviculture: unknown; keeping and diet probably similar to Palm Lorikeet.
usually seen in groups of up to 10 birds; mostly observed flying over forest or foraging in upper branches of flowering trees or palms; often associates there with Rainbow Lory or other nectar-feeders; fairly docile and approachable when feeding; otherwise shy and inconspicuous; fairly soft, rapidly repeated szeep when flying, occasionally also heard when feeding; in addition harsh see-air call.
Diet
Natural diet: nectar, flowers, pollen and possibly also soft fruits.
