Collared Lories are common, but their range is restricted to just a few islands. They may be vulnerable in future to disturbances such as logging, which removes the hollows they use for nesting. Their ability to exploit introduced trees for food has allowed them to persist despite profound changes to their environment.
Amazing Collared Lories
Collared Lories belong to a group of parrots that includes the lorikeets of Australia. Like all parrots they have stocky bodies, large heads and short legs. Their strong, curved beaks and nimble tongues are powered by highly-developed muscles which help them manipulate food. Collared Lories have long tongues tipped with a brush-like appendage for sweeping up pollen grains and nectar.
Their plumage is very colourful but actually provides camouflage in their lush forest home. With orange bills, purple-black crowns and bright feathers of green, red and royal blue, Collared Lories are stunning parrots, and their feathers were traditionally used for decoration by people of Samoa and Tonga. They have an area of long feathers behind their necks that they can ruffle up to create a large ‘collar’. Large groups of these birds congregate to feed on mangoes and coconut palm flowers, often displaying playful, intelligent and inquisitive behaviour.
These birds are difficult to study in the wild since they move around so much to follow food sources. Most recorded breeding behaviour comes from studying captive birds. Collared Lories form strong pair bonds and nest in tree hollows or old stumps in November or December. They lay two eggs, which are incubated for about 30 days. Young Collared Lories remain in the nest, attended by both parents, for about nine weeks.