Black-Capped Lories, Lorius lory, Always Popular
By Jos Hubers, Netherlands
Introduction
You will remember the list of all the articles published in this journal during the first ten years, printed in the previous issue. While I was working on it, I noticed that there had not been something written about the Black-Capped Lory for some time. The article written in the fourth issue from 1995 was not a general article but concentrated on the differences between the subspecies. I think this is a good reason to write about this species now as it is as popular now as it has ever been, and still one of the best known of the larger lories.
As mentioned above, the previous article in 1995 highlighted the differences between the seven subspecies. This issue is now only available in English (when necessary with a translation in German or Dutch). In the last few years new lory enthusiasts have come along (and unfortunately we have also lost some) and for these reasons I would like to cover the differences between subspecies for those more commonly kept, and write something more general about keeping this species.
Distribution
One can find the Black-Capped Lory and the subspecies on the mainland of New Guinea and some of the surrounding islands situated in the northwest of New Guinea.
Habitat
Black-Capped Lories are birds from the lowland forest. Most commonly seen as pairs, sometimes in small groups but that is mainly when they are searching for food. Afterwards they will split again and roost as pairs. It is not as much a colony bird as Rainbow Lories for example.
Taxonomy
This subject has received detailed discussion in the 1995 article (five pages), therefore this time I will present a summarised version.
Description
We can divide the 7 subspecies into two groups as follows:
- Birds with dark blue (sometimes almost black) under wing coverts: jobiensis, salvadorii, viridicrissalis and cyanuchen.
- Birds with red under wing coverts: lory, erythrothorax and somu.
The subspecies cyanuchen (probably one specimen in Canada) and somu are almost unknown in aviculture so I am not going to describe them now. Also I won't discuss the viridicrissalis as in previous research in several museums I could not find any difference between this subspecies and salvadorii
Subspecies with red under wing coverts
Black-Capped Lory, Lorius lory lory
Length 29 to 31 cm.
The blue neckband extends as an arrow across the neck area and is clearly joined with the blue breast and stomach region, the neckband directly joins the blue back. So to be honest you cannot speak about a clear band because of this joint.
The blue colour on the front varies from pale blue to almost a black-blue. This subspecies is one of the more common ones.
Red Breasted Lory, Lorius lory erythrothorax
Length 28 to 30 cm.
Erythrothorax is often slighter smaller than lory. This subspecies does not have the neck band joined with the blue underbelly is also split from the blue mantle by a red band.
Subspecies with blue under wing coverts
This group has all the under wing feathers dark blue, almost coloured black-blue. All subspecies from this group have a blue band extending from the stomach to the under wings.
Jobi Lory, Lorius lory jobiensis
Length about 31 cm.
This subspecies has a rose red sheen on the breast that is a distinguishing feature. The blue colouration on the front is altogether paler. Pure jobiensis are now rare in aviculture and probably disappeared from aviculture. Most of the commonly called Jobi lories offered have some salvadorii blood in them.
Salvadori Lory, Lorius lory salvadorii
Length 28 to 30 cm.
Similar to jobiensis but with a redder breast. The blue feathers are dark to deep blue. The body is somewhat slimmer than the previously mentioned subspecies. This subspecies is not commonly kept in aviculture.
Young birds
Under wing coverts
A general rule is that all young birds from the subspecies with red under wing coverts have coloured under wings when they fledge, that is to say that they have red as well as blue feathers. After moulting the blue feathers will be replaced with red feathers. The subspecies with blue under wing coverts will have blue feathers.
Neckbands
Many youngsters will fledge with a neckband connected with the mantel and the crown. So it doesn't look like a band anymore. Some birds are missing the whole band. After the moult these features will all disappear.
Breast and stomach
If the young are not plucked by their parents, they resemble the parents once they leave the nest. An exception is with lory. The young of this subspecies do not have a distinct link between neck and stomach areas. In this phase there is almost no difference with erythrothorax.
Unfortunately many young birds are plucked by their parents. If the feathers grow back eventually then the whole of the front is often blue in colour. In extreme cases only the cheeks are red. Only after the next moult the normal plumage colouration returns. Some birds fledge with a blue throat band.
Recommendations
If one wants to keep the Black-Capped Lory then I would recommend that you arrange to see them before their acquisition. In the case of young birds you must see the parents. If this is not possible one should at least obtain a detailed description.
Identification of the hybrids
In order to progress with the recognition of hybrids one should first be familiar with the characteristics of the various subspecies. Most of the hybrids are based on pairings between lory and erythrothorax
Black Capped Lory x Red Breasted Lory
The neckband is much more weakly joined with the mantle or back. The connection between the neckband and breast or stomach is, as a rule, broken or only weak or blotchy in appearance.
Black Capped Lory x Salvadori Lory
As above, the under wings are red with blue.
Black Capped Lory x Joby Lory
As above, the red plumage exhibits a rose coloured sheen, which is almost imperceptible.
Red Breasted Lory x Salvadori Lory
These hybrids are only apparent on the under wings where the red and blue are flecked. Difficult to distinguish from non fully coloured erythrothorax.
Red Breasted x Joby Lory
As above, however coloured weakly with pink. Mostly a little larger than erythrothorax.
Salvadori Lory x Joby Lory
Red colour with a pink sheen, smaller to jobiensis
Recommendations
It is easy to advise people not to continue to breed with hybrids. But we must assume that people will continue to breed from hybrids and therefore we should pair them in the best possible way. Nevertheless one should still NEVER have to pair two birds that are hybrids. A hybrid should be paired to the most suitable purest partner. Further breeding should result as a rule in reproducing almost the original subspecies. We do not however suggest that pure birds are wasted in this way if there is a better choice.
Status in nature
As far as is known most subspecies are still common in the wild. However, Lorius l.cyanuchen from Biak is decreasing in numbers. I could not find sufficient information on the Jobi Lory but considering the small area that this bird inhabits, it would not surprise me that numbers are low.
Status in the wild
Most of the subspecies are common in the wild as far as is known. Only the numbers of the subspecies Lorius l.cyanuchen from Biak are decreasing. Nothing could be found about the subspecies jobiensis, the only thing that is known is that this subspecies lives in a small area which makes them vulnerable to decreasing in numbers.
Black-Capped Lories in aviculture
As already written in the opening remarks, Black-capped Lories are popular birds. That was already in the past and that will be the same in the future.
It is a robust and strong bird that is not too difficult to be obtained. The subspecies normally offered are the Black-Capped Lory, Red-Breasted Lory and in smaller numbers the Salvadori Lory. The first two subspecies can be found worldwide in the same numbers. In Australia the numbers offered for sale are even bigger than in Western Europe. It is only different if we look at the price of the birds. Black-Capped Lories and Red-Breasted Lories are many times more expensive as in other countries. The Salvadori Lory is not common in most countries. The numbers of these birds are greatest in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, I believe. In Great Britain they are rare. The subspecies jobiensis is offered just now and then in Germany but I'm afraid the numbers can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Lorius species are not small lories and they need a lot off physical exercise and for that reason I recommend a large aviary to house them in. They are not always nice to each other and that is a second reason to give them more space. If two adult birds are put together it can take a lot of time before they accept each other. The ability to get out of each other's way is a matter of life and death.
As previously stated a big aviary is very important. In most cases they will be housed in a partially inside and outside aviary. Black-Capped Lories do have a strong voice and not everybody likes to hear it. If you are lucky you can have a pair that imitate a lot and make less noise.
Black-Capped Lories can be robust birds but I still recommend an inside shelter which protects them against frost during the winter. This will be less important if you live in a place where it only freezes lightly a few days per year. It is known that there is a chance that lories breed throughout the year. It is better to house birds that have youngsters somewhere not too cold.
The nestboxes must give them enough space. As soon as the youngsters are a few days old the nestbox will be getting dirty and needs regular cleaning. I use the normal shaped nestboxes measuring 25 x 25cm and 45cm high. I never had any problems that the birds were breaking the eggs but maybe it is better to give them a L-shaped nestbox. The newest nestboxes that I made are also L-shaped.
The bottom can be 25 x 25cm or 25 x 30cm and 45cm high and on top 55cm long. The birds enter the nestbox in the top about 20cm down and then can go further into the nest which then is only another 25cm. This is also the place where the bird is incubating the eggs. The entrance hole is 8cm wide.
Black-Capped Lories can start to breed from the age of 3 years old and probably earlier in a warmer climate. The way of breeding is not different from other lories. A clutch normally comprises 2 white eggs incubated for a period of about 25 days. The newly hatched young has a weight of 9g and is covered in a long white primary down except for the forehead which is grey.
Within two weeks a secondary grey down will start to grow. This is the time to ring the young birds. The size of the ring can be 7.5 to 8.0mm or 8.5 mm but the last size is not always necessary.
Normally, the youngsters leave the nestbox between 60 and 75 days. And compared to the other larger lories they are not fast growers.
Black-Capped Lories are normally good breeding birds producing several clutches each year.
I remember that I bought 2 imported pairs of Red-Breasted Lories from a bird dealer back in 1988 that gave me non-stop youngsters until 1992. That means 1 or 2 young birds in each clutch. But on the other hand it can take a long time before two birds even accept each other especially when a bird has to be replaced after one of the birds has died. It needs extra attention especially that the newcomer is allowed to go to the food. A better way is to place the bird next to the other each in their own cage and let them become used to each other. If that is not an option then make sure that you are nearby to watch the bird and interfere when necessary. As I wrote before, watch the consumption of the food of the newcomer.
In their way of behaviour it is indeed really beautiful bird. It gives it an extra dimension when the birds are just a little bit tame and come towards to you. They can be extremely exuberant and will be using their vocabulary a lot. The male that I own for instance holds the wire with the lower leg and with the other leg he makes a sort of jumping against the wire. This bird is also very strong. When the water to bath in is refreshed he goes to wash himself and before the female gets a chance he grabs the dish which contains 4 litres of water and throws the dish onto the floor. Most of the times this happens 3 to 4 minutes after he has taken his bath. This bird is also a good imitator. I once had a Black-Capped Lory that came from Trevor Buckell and it did a perfect and loud imitation of the telephone. The neighbours first thought that there was a new telephone connection in the aviary at the end of my garden. Now after a few years I hear it only rarely. A sound has to be heard now and then otherwise the bird forgets the sound.
Black-Capped Lories can reach an age of approximately 25 to 30 years. A well know German breeder had a Jobi Lory which still raises young birds at an age of 25 years old. After that time it went downhill and just seldom laid an egg that was infertile.
If there are no problems with neighbours it can be expected that the Black-Capped Lory and its subspecies are one of the birds that are true a joy to have.
Literatuur
JUNIPER, T & PARR, M (1998); Parrots, A Guide to the Parrots of the World
LOW, R (1998); Encyclopedia of the Lories, Hancock House Publishers
