Introduction
Old World Parrots – Fiji boasts a range of vibrant parrot species uniquely adapted to their respective habitats. From the endemic Crimson Shining-parrot, adorned in bold red and green plumage, to the Masked Shining-parrot with its distinctive black face and yellow chest, these birds thrive across diverse ecosystems on Fiji’s islands. The critically endangered Red-throated Lorikeet inhabits upland rainforests, while the Collared Lory flourishes in lowland forests and urban areas like Suva, showcasing its dazzling array of colors
| CRIMSON SHINING-PARROT | MASKED SHINING-PARROT | RED-THROATED LORIKEET |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| COLLARED LORY | RED SHINING-PARROT | BLUE-CROWNED LORIKEET |
 |  |  |
Crimson Shining-parrot
The Crimson Shining-parrot, also known as the Kadavu musk parrot, is endemic to the islands of Kadavu and Ono in Fiji’s Kadavu Group. It is a large parrot characterized by bright red head and underside, contrasting with a vibrant green upper body and blue hind neck and tail. This species inhabits various habitats and is distinguished from the Red Shining-parrot by its more intense red underparts and head, with a less vibrant brownish-orange eye color. Both species are found on neighboring islands but do not overlap in distribution.
Common Name: Crimson Shining-parrot
Scientific Name: Prosopeia splendens
Recorded Sightings: Viti Levu – Kadavu
Image Supplied: Mehd Halaouate.
Fun Fact 1: Striking Crimson Plumage
Fun Fact 1: The Crimson Shining-parrot (Prosopeia splendens) is notable for its striking crimson plumage and vibrant green wings, making it one of the most visually stunning parrots in the Pacific region.
Masked Shining-parrot
This unique large parrot is bright green with a black face and a rough-edged yellow chest and belly, found across various habitats. It measures 47 cm in length, weighing 322 g, and exhibits a distinct black mask on its face. The body is predominantly bright green, with a yellow center on the breast that fades to orange towards the abdomen. Its wing’s primary feathers display outer webs in shades of blue or purple, while the tail feathers are green with a hint of blue wash.
Common Name: Masked Shining-parrot
Scientific Name: Prosopeia personata
Recorded Sightings: Viti Levu
Image Supplied: Stavenn. (2014)
Fun Fact 2: Remarkable Vocal Abilities
The Masked Shining-parrot is known for its remarkable vocal abilities, often emitting loud and melodious calls that echo through the forests of Fiji and other Pacific islands where it resides.
Fun Fact 3: Important Pollinator
The Masked Shining-parrot is unique among parrots for its habit of feeding on nectar and pollen, making it an important pollinator in the ecosystems where it lives.
Red-throated Lorikeet
Collared Lory
The Collared Lory, is a stunningly multicolored parrot found in Fiji’s subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, adapting well to human habitation and occasionally sighted in Suva. Adults, around 20 cm long, display slight sexual dimorphism: males have scarlet cheeks, throat, breast, and upper abdomen, with a dark purple crown and lime green nape adorned with elongated feathers. Females are similar but with a paler crown. Juveniles are duller with faint purple striations on the upper abdomen and breast, brown beaks, and pale brown irises.
Diet: Includes fruits, seeds, nectar, and blossoms. The species is found on Fiji’s larger islands and extends outward to the Lau Islands, including Lakeba and Oneata.
Common Name: Collared Lory
Scientific Name: Vini solitarius
Recorded Sightings: Viti Levu – Vanua Levu – Taveuni – Kadavu – Lomaiviti – Lau
Image Supplied: Christiaen, Peter.
Fun Fact 4: Vibrant and Striking Plumage
The Collared Lory is recognized for its vibrant and striking plumage, featuring a colorful combination of red, green, and blue feathers that make it a captivating sight in its native forests of Fiji.
Red Shining-parrot
The Red Shining-parrot is a large, brightly colored parrot found in a variety of habitats across islands near Fiji. It has a dark red head and underside, contrasting with a bright green upper body and a blue neck and tail. Similar to the Crimson Shining-parrot but distinguished by darker red underparts and a brownish-red head with a bright orange eye, these parrots inhabit mature and secondary growth forests, forested valleys where breeding occurs from June to January, and coconut plantations. They feed on seeds and fruits from the upper canopies of mango, guava, banana, and papaya trees within their range.
Common Name: Red Shining-parrot
Scientific Name: Prosopeia tabuensis
Recorded Sightings: Vanua Levu – Taveuni
Image Supplied: William, Stephens.
Fun Fact 5: Social Behavior
The Red Shining-parrot is known for its intelligence and social behavior, often forming strong pair bonds and engaging in complex vocalizations that include mimicry of other birds and environmental sounds.
Blue-Crowned Lorikeet
The Blue-Crowned Lorikeet is a 19 cm green lorikeet characterized by a predominantly green plumage and a relatively rounded tail. It features a striking coloration with a blue crown and a belly patch that transitions from red at the top to purple at the bottom. This lorikeet is adorned with bright orange bill and feet, adding to its vibrant appearance in its natural habitat.
Common Name: Blue-Crowned Lorikeet
Scientific Name: Vini australis
Recorded Sightings: Lau
Image Supplied: Weissburg, Casey.
Fun Fact 6: Acrobatic Flight Skills
The Blue-crowned Lorikeet is notable for its acrobatic flight skills and energetic personality, often seen performing aerial twists and turns with remarkable agility and grace.
NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is Fiji’s only domestic NGO working solely for the conservation and sustainable management of Fiji’s unique natural heritage – Link
That’s all, folks! No extra info to dig into this time!
Just a quick note—no footnotes to add this time!
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