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Musk Lorikeet

(Glossopsitta concinna)
Alternative names: "Green Keet", "Green Leek"
Size: 21-23 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Musk Lorikeets, race "concinna" are most common along a narrow coastal strip from the NSW central coast to about Adelaide, SA. They are occasionally found much further inland, into the catchment of the Murray River (i.e. most of VIC). There is a firmly established population in the north-west slopes and plains in inland NSW. Occasionally they are found as far north as Brisbane, QLD. Race "didmus" is found in the south-east quarter of Tasmania, sometimes also extending towards the north of Tasmania.

Musk Lorikeets can be found mostly in open forest, often with flowering eucalypts. They also frequent urban environments, such as parks and gardens.

Sightings

Similar to other lorikeets, in particular Little Lorikeets, Musk Lorikeets are often hard to spot, because so very quick and usually quite shy. But one can always hear them when they are around. Once spotted, they are relatively easy to approach.

First spotted by us in August 2007, in the township of Narrabri, NSW, where they were feasting on the blossoms of ironbark eucalypts. Seen again in various areas around Narrabri throughout the summer of 2008/09. After staying in the area for several months, they "mustered" around late April/early May 2009 and then left, all the various flocks that we had seen, together from one day to the next, while the eucalypts in the area were still in blossom. They returned again in large numbers in the spring of 2010, when - after substantial rainfalls - all trees in town were in blossom and the place was swarming with Musk Lorikeets. In 2011 only a few birds were spotted by us in the Narrabri area.

Spotted also in Gunnedah, NSW, in October 2008; there tens of birds were taking advantage of the availability of bottlebrush blossoms at the time. In April 2011 hundreds of Musk Lorikeets were observed by us in flowering eucalypts about 25 km south of Gunnedah, NSW.

Photos

Musk Lorikeet feeding on blossoms

Here seen hanging off a branch

This photo provides a frontal view of the head

The same birds as above, now in a more lateral position ; note the orange tip of the bill

This photo provides the best overview of the facial colour pattern of a Musk Lorikeet. In addition to the following photos, it also exhibits the distinctive leading yellow wing edge on the wings

Here the head seen from above...

...and here from the side

Flock of 15 Musk Lorikeets in flight

Frontal view of a Musk Lorikeet, probably an immature bird, with its head turned, exhibiting the characteristic facial pattern

Hybrid

Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a look here.

In June 2011 a hybrid lorikeet was reported at Chain Valley Bay South, a bay of Lake Macquarie on the NSW Central Coast. We subsequently spotted a second hybrid, most likely between a Musk Lorikeet and a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet.

Hybrid lorikeet feeding; one can see clearly the orange scaling typical of a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet and the red forehead of a Musk Lorikeet

Different perspective

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: Flock

Like other species of parrots, Musk Lorikeets are very sociable birds.

Musk Lorikeets like close companionship

And like other species of parrots, they like taking regular baths. The ones shown below have found a bathtub inside a eucalypt trunk.

Getting out of a bathtub when all your feathers are wet is not always easy

Here a comparison - coming out of the tub, left, vs. going in, right

Food

Musk Lorikeets feed on nectar.