Charmosyna rubronotata (Wallace, 1862)

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 : 41

RED-FRONTED LORIKEET Charmosyna rubronotata #

Range C. r. kordoana Biak, Supiori.

Status Endemic subspecies. Obtained by three collectors including Ripley. During July 1982 KDB observed it commonly, invariably in flocks of ten to c.30, in flowering trees and coconuts both on Biak and Supiori (up to c. 350 m). Gibbs (1993) found it in large flocks at flowering trees near Korrido, Supiori. Subsequently, very few visitors have reported the species, but they have seemingly mistaken it for the very similar Red-flanked Lorikeet C. placentis . The endemic subspecies C. r. kordoana is very similar to C. placentis and records of the latter require verification. M. Halaouate (in litt. 2021) noted it is still widespread especially in the remaining forests in northern Biak. It has been seen feeding on coconut blooms and on the nectar of flowering Malayan Apple Syzygium malaccense with Black-capped Lory Lorius lory , Black-winged Lory Eos cyanogenia and Red-cheeked Parrot Geoffroyus geoffroyi .