Pygmy Lorikeet

Charminetta wilhelminae (Meyer, AB, 1874)

Pygmy Lorikeet, Charminetta wilhelminae, is a parrot of montane New Guinea, breeding in the Bird's Head of north-west New Guinea and across to the Huon Peninsula and south-east New Guinea. It belongs to Psittaculidae and is the only member of Charminetta. It occurs in highland forest between 1000 and 2200 m. The species is the smallest lorikeet. Males show a dark purple rump, a streaked yellow breast, red underwing stripes, and an orange bill and eyes, while females lack the red wing stripe and have a green rump. Immatures resemble adults but do not have yellow breast streaking.

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Psittaculidae — Old World Parrots

Breeding range

Australasia: montane Bird's Head (nw New Guinea) and wc to ne (Huon Pen.) and se New Guinea