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The Juvenile Food-Begging Calls and Associated Behaviour in the Lorikeets

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The Juvenile Food-Begging Calls and Associated Behaviour in the Lorikeets VOL. 17 (2) JUNE 1997 61 AUSTRALIAN BIRD WATCHER 1997, 17, 61-70 The Juvenile Food-begging Calls and Associated Behaviour in the Lorikeets by JOHN COURTNEY, 'Ashgrove', Swan Vale, via Glen Innes, N.S.W. 2370 Summary The juvenile food-begging calls of representative species of eight of the 11 genera of lorikeets were studied and compared with those of other Australian parrots and cockatoos. The food-begging call of most species is a uniform repeated hissing note. The calls of two genera, Charmosyna and Vini (incorporating Phigys), are a repeated tremulous trill. On the basis of their trilling food-begging calls, it is suggested that the Psittaculirostris fig-parrots may be related to Charmosyna and Vini. Introduction The present paper, on the juvenile food-begging calls and begging postures of the lorikeets, is a continuation of a study covering these aspects in all groups of Australian parrots and cockatoos (Courtney 1996, 1997). The methods used and a discussion of food-begging calls were outlined in those papers. It is emphasised that the project, for all parrot groups studied, is simply a survey and qualitative description of these calls. Where differences in these calls between species or groups have been great or, conversely, where similarities have been undeniable even without statistical analysis, taxonomic conclusions have been drawn where appropriate. The lorikeets are a large assemblage of parrots, with 55 species in 11 genera, which occur widely through the Australasian Region and east into Polynesia, with one species extending north to the Philippines (Forshaw 1978). Six species in three genera occur in mainland Australia (Christidis & Boles 1994). On protein evidence, the lorikeets appear to be closely related to one another but their relationship to other parrots is obscure (Christidis et al. 1991). The food-begging calls of representative species of eight of the 11 lorikeet genera are described briefly and discussed. Possible taxonomic implications are discussed also, including a putative relationship between the Psittaculirostris fig-parrots and some lorikeet genera. For the purpose of this paper, Phigys is synonymised with Vini (following Low in press). Methods Captive-bred young of five Australian species were reared by hand, and wild broods of some species were also studied. No Purple-crowned Lorikeets Glossopsitta porphyrocephala were available for study. Sample sizes of birds tape-recorded were: Musk Lorikeet G. concinna two broods of two chicks (B/2 X 2, unrelated) in the wild, B/2 x 1 in captivity; Little Lorikeet G. pusilla B/4 x 3 (unrelated) in the wild, B/4 x I in captivity; Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor B/3 X 1 captive; Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus and Rainbow Lorikeet T. haematodus rubritorquis single, typical examples of captive young. The begging postures were noted and food-begging calls recorded on tape, which were then analysed using Audiograph 2.0 for Macintosh computer (see Courtney 1997). It is stressed that, from 11 years' prior experience of nestling parrots, the calls taped and analysed were typical of what were by then known to be the normal, species-specific calls; resulting audiographs presented here are representative examples for their species. Tape-recordings of the begging calls of captive-bred young of 10 species from six genera outside mainland Australia were also analysed (tapes provided by R. Low of England unless stated): Yellow­ streaked Lory Chalcopsitta scintillata B/1 x 2 (one brood from G. A. Smith of England); Dusky Lory Pseudeos fuscata B/ 1 x 2; Tahiti Blue Lory Vini peruviana Bll x 2 (unrelated); Red Lory Eos bomea B/2 X 1; and single, typical young of Duyvenbode's Lory Chalcopsitta duivenbodei, Black-capped Lory Lorius lory, Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus (New Guinean form, race unknown), Goldie's Lorikeet Psitteuteles goldiei, Collared Lory Vini solitaria and Blue-crowned AUSTRALIAN 62 COURTNEY BIRD WATCHER Lory V. australis (the last two species from G. Campbell, San Diego Zoo). A tape-recording of a single young Salvadori's Fig-Parrot Psittaculirostris salvadorii was provided by G.A. Smith. A composite cassette-tape of all recordings used has been lodged with the Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO, Canberra. Comparison with other groups can be made by reference to the companion papers in this series (cockatoos: Courtney 1996; 'rose-tailed' parrots and others: Courtney 1997; platycercines: Courtney in press). Results Defensive behaviour in young When disturbed in the nest or (in captivity) when a nest-box is opened, nestling Australian lorikeets run rapidly over the floor of the nest and utter a loud buzzing call (pers. obs.), although many other species are silent or become so after 2-3 seconds (R. Low in litt.). This contrasts with the behaviour of other young parrots and cockatoos observed (except Budgerigars Melopsittacus undulatus), which sit in one place. Nestling Budgerigars behave like young lorikeets. Nestling Salvadori's Fig­ Parrots are also said to run rapidly about like lorikeets (G.A. Smith in litt.). Food-begging posture All Australian lorikeets observed adopted a fairly horizontal stance and rapidly quivered their partly outspread wings in a manner reminiscent of young passerines. This behaviour is unlike that of any other species of parrot or cockatoo observed (Courtney 1996, 1997, in press). Juvenile food-begging calls The lorikeets can be split into two categories based on the food-begging call: those species that utter a hissing note (most genera, Figures 1-12) and those that utter a tremulous trill ( Vini, Figures 13-16). Both types of call are of similar length and repeated at a similar rate, and do not change in basic pattern with age from downy to feathered young. In those species that hiss, audiographs reveal that the somewhat sharp-sounding, high-intensity repeated note uttered when young are hungry and being fed, begins with a structureless hiss abruptly giving way to a momentary high-energy, high-pitched 'blip' which precedes a structured hiss (Figures 1-12).. In lower intensity begging, as is typical of much calling, often only the structured hiss is given. The hissing call is similar among the various species, and the rate of repetition varies with degree of hunger. The length of note and emphasis in pitch among different species are clearly shown in the audiographs (Figures 1-12). The species and genera known to call in the hissing manner just described are as follow: Chalcopsitta (Duyvenbode's and Yellow-streaked Lories, Figures 1-2); Lorius (Black-capped Lory, Figure 3); Eos (Red Lory, Figure 4); Pseudeos (Dusky Lory, Figure 5); Trichoglossus (Rainbow and Scaly-breasted Lorikeets, Figures 6-8); Psitteuteles (Varied and Goldie's Lorikeets, Figures 9-10); and Glossopsitta (Musk and Little Lorikeets, Figures 11-12). A videotape of Musschenbroek's Lorikeet Neopsittacus musschenbroekii (provided by R. Low) shows that it also utters a hissing food-begging call; unfortunately the recording is too noisy to analyse by audiograph, but Low (in litt.) has subsequently confirmed from hand-reared birds that it hisses like Trichoglossus . Lorikeets of the genus Vini (including Phigys) occur well east of Australia and New Guinea ·in the far-flung Pacific islands. Tape-recorded food-begging calls of hand­ reared Tahiti Blue Lories (Figures 13-14) show for the first time that species of Vini utter a brief repeated trill instead of a hiss. A recording of a single two-week-old, parent-reared young Collared Lory consisted of some~what high-pitched tremulous VOL. 17 (2) JUNE 1997 V ocalisations of Lorikeets 63 Duyvenbode 's Lory 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 Figure 1. Juvenile food-begging call of Duyvenbode's Lory Chalcopsitta duivenbodei. Yell ow-streaked Lory 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 s Figure 2. Juvenile food-begging call of Yellow-streaked Lory Chalcopsitta scintillata. Black-capped Lory 10.00 kHz 9.00 kHz 8.00 kHz 7.00 kHz 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 1.20 s 1.40 s 1.60 s 1.80 s 2.00 s 2.20 s Figure 3. Juvenile food-begging call of Black-capped Lory Lorius lory. AUSTRALIAN 64 COURTNEY BIRD WATCHER Red Lory Figure 4. Juvenile food-begging call of Red Lory Eos bomea. Dusky Lory 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 ' Figure 5. Juvenile food-begging call of Dusky Lory Pseudeos fusctita. Rainbow Lorikeet (New Gu inea form) 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 s 0.20 s 0.40 s 0.60 s 0.80 s 1.00 s 1.20 s 1.40 s 1.60 s 1.80 s 2.00 s 2.20 s 2.40 s 2.60 s 2.80 s Figure 6. Juvenile food-begging call of Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus, New Guinea for1n (race unknown). VOL. 17 (2) JUNE 1997 Vocalisations of Lorikeets 65 \Rainbow Lorikeet 10.00 kHz 9.00 kHz 8.00 kHz 7.00 kHz 6.00 kHz r-·"-. 5.00 kHz 4.00 kHz !~ 3.00 kHz f-·'· ::./;.;;~~.-::-.., -;;-:-::;;;.. - ~ 2.00 kHz . LOOkH' ..~~ ~ ~ .?24fSP!Qf24i¥Mii4& 0.00 kHz .. ~· · • · • · . 0.00 s 0.20 s 0.40 s 0.60 s 0.80 s 1.00 s 1.20 s 1.40 s Figure 7. Juvenile food-begging call of Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus rubritorquis. Scaly-breasted Lorikeet 10.00 9.00 8.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 0.00 s 0.20 s 0.40 s 0.60 s 0.80 s l.OO s 1.20 s 1.40 s 1.60 s 1.80 s 2.00 s 2.20 s 2.40 s 2.60 s 2.80 s Figure 8.
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