Eos cyanogenia, Bonaparte, 1850

Bishop, K. David, 2023, The avifauna of Biak Island, Papua, Indonesia with comments on status, conservation, natural history and taxonomy, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 143 (1), pp. 3-62 : 43

BLACK-WINGED LORY Eos cyanogenia # RR, Vulnerable

Local name Man[g] Fir (Sansundi, Kuneff).

Range Biak, Supiori, Owi, Numfor, Manim and Mios Num (the map in Forshaw 1989 incorrectly included Yapen in the species’ range).

Status Teluk Cenderawasih endemic species. All collectors that visited Biak obtained this striking endemic. Equally, since 1982 all visitors to Biak have reported the species. In July 1982, KDB found it common from sea level to c. 305 m, and uncommon to c. 460 m, with small groups or pairs noted constantly in flight over primary forest. KDB occasionally recorded larger groups of 40‒60 at flowering forest trees, associating with the then much commoner and widespread Trichoglossus haematodus . He also observed pairs in courtship display and saw a pair at a nest hole high in a ridge-top tree at c. 100–200 m on Supiori. At this time, he observed flocks on Biak and Supiori flying to coastal areas during the late afternoon to roost in coconut palms. In 1982 the species was commonly kept as a pet on Biak, but KDB saw none in captivity on Supiori. Subsequent visits to Biak market revealed large numbers being sold for the pet trade. In 1995 the species was still present in southern Biak, but then only in small groups (2‒10) and it was notably more difficult to find in areas where KDB had previously found it easily. At the time, the species appeared to be a sparse inhabitant of tall secondary lowland forest and primary forest, but we failed to see any in the low scrubby regrowth over much of the southern plateau. In January 1997 it was seen daily at Marauw and Sansundi with flocks of up to 15 (SvB). M. Halaouate’s (in litt. 2021) assessment of the situation on Biak is that numbers have declined markedly. Whereas flocks of 5‒60 were formerly seen occasionally in flight, even over degraded forest, virtually no such flocks were observed during 1986‒95. During more recent visits, in 2015‒16, KDB failed to see the species on Biak and found only a small group at the edge of tall primary forest on Supiori. Status on Numfor, Manim and Mios Num is unknown. 13 January 1994: three on Owi (P. Gregory in litt. 2000); later the same year D. Roberson (in litt 2017) observed two there. The call is a loud, far-carrying, unmusical screech with a slight quavering quality; less high-pitched than Trichoglossus haematodus .