One thought on “Marigold Lorikeet (Trichoglossus capistratus)”
On Romang in 2010 – I had two records only over 10? days – first was three birds flying over a camp at 320m elevation on the slopes of a well forested low mountain (700m ish), 5km N of main town of Hila. Second record was of two birds flying over as I walked up the same mountain at about 490m. I assume that they were at naturally occurring low numbers as other birds were in natural numbers including forest pigeons (* though always the chance of trapping in earlier times).
Hard to judge population based on that – but likely low at that time. <500 birds and perhaps much less. Most of island unsurveyed of course.
Atauro island – have now spent about 20 days on island since 2003. I have just three records (5 birds 2013 and 1 bird in 2017 near Beloi, lowland coastal below 100m), 6 birds at Anartutu village at 500m way back in 2003, a coauthor to a 2007 Atauro article had seen just three birds in flight on one occasion. I'm not sure of any other records, but thats a very low rate records since the early 2000s. Presumably natural, though the island was well used during Indonesian times – so always potential of mass trapping in 80-90s…
West Timor – my only records I can access easily (eBird) are records of 4 and 2 birds on the slopes of Gunung Timau at around 1450 m in 2024. Around 200 Iris Lorikeet were recorded at the same time, so the rarity of this bird is notable, and also I seem to have no other records during about 100 field days less surprisingly as much of it in highly accessible/high population areas. From Timor-Leste I see they do have a slight preference for tropical forest in lowland and mountains. I suspect there is a small populations in the Lelogama-Timau area, perhaps 100s, but would need remote fieldwork to confirm. Clearly most birds have been hoovered up in most of West Timor, and overall population is tiny. A summary of the well visited Mutis area would be instructive – they are happy in high elevation areas (Eucalyptus less so, but possibly when flowering), theres around 300-400 km2 of habitat there, most unsurveyed, but if records are sparse there it would be telling. I seem to have no records during a 2010 visit to Mutis.
In Timor-Leste – over c. 900 days have 213 records (totalling 1380 birds, ave: 5.4 birds/excluding one individual record of 250 birds) where they can be locally common from sea-level to the mountains – I guess my highest elevation records are around 1700 m. Many of my records are historical but I have had at least 41 records since 2017 (total 147 birds, mean: 3.6 birds) including interesting records of 20 birds on the north coast near Bazartete in mixed Eucalyptus/Coffee/agricultural land. They seem to have a strong preference for tropical forest such as Nino Konis Santana National Park, as well as montane tropical forest. Eucalyptus forest is extensive in lowland and montane areas of Timor-Leste but I cannot remember any use of that habitat. They do like lowland riverine forest dominated by Casuarina (the record of 250 birds at edge of Lautem in 2003) – theres a 30-40m tall undescribed Casuarina that occurs in thick groves along streams in Timor-Leste and also Wetar.
I estimate the Timor-Leste population could be 5-10,000+. Birds are captured and sold, but we have little idea of the scale, and whether birds are traded into Indonesia. Seemingly small numbers are kept in Timorese houses. No particularly noticeable decline – but needs specific attention to confirm.
Rote – I have just 3 records [4 total] in Dec 2004 of 2,2,1 birds on the northern peninsular. I possibly walked about 60km or so in remote areas, so the low rate of records at that time is notable. In 2024 I had a single record of 2 birds. Remote areas of Rote further into forest in this northern peninsula could hold a small population maybe 50-100 birds, though actually I did access about 10% of that remote forest in 2004 and had hardly any records. Possible for a small population but clearly has been subject to intense harvest.
Mees/Verheijen had no Rote records – unsurprising as Verheijen only visited the southern part of Rote – they were either always uncommon, or had been trapped out by the 1970s. Not sure if there would be much demand that early on. Remarkably Paul Jepson recorded Great-billed Parrot at Seda but had no lorikeets, so they were gone during 1990s.
Semau – most recent record seems to be 1859/Wallace. I've spent about 8 days on the island since 2012, but have no records. Likely extirpated – TBC.
On Romang in 2010 – I had two records only over 10? days – first was three birds flying over a camp at 320m elevation on the slopes of a well forested low mountain (700m ish), 5km N of main town of Hila. Second record was of two birds flying over as I walked up the same mountain at about 490m. I assume that they were at naturally occurring low numbers as other birds were in natural numbers including forest pigeons (* though always the chance of trapping in earlier times).
Hard to judge population based on that – but likely low at that time. <500 birds and perhaps much less. Most of island unsurveyed of course.
Atauro island – have now spent about 20 days on island since 2003. I have just three records (5 birds 2013 and 1 bird in 2017 near Beloi, lowland coastal below 100m), 6 birds at Anartutu village at 500m way back in 2003, a coauthor to a 2007 Atauro article had seen just three birds in flight on one occasion. I'm not sure of any other records, but thats a very low rate records since the early 2000s. Presumably natural, though the island was well used during Indonesian times – so always potential of mass trapping in 80-90s…
West Timor – my only records I can access easily (eBird) are records of 4 and 2 birds on the slopes of Gunung Timau at around 1450 m in 2024. Around 200 Iris Lorikeet were recorded at the same time, so the rarity of this bird is notable, and also I seem to have no other records during about 100 field days less surprisingly as much of it in highly accessible/high population areas. From Timor-Leste I see they do have a slight preference for tropical forest in lowland and mountains. I suspect there is a small populations in the Lelogama-Timau area, perhaps 100s, but would need remote fieldwork to confirm. Clearly most birds have been hoovered up in most of West Timor, and overall population is tiny. A summary of the well visited Mutis area would be instructive – they are happy in high elevation areas (Eucalyptus less so, but possibly when flowering), theres around 300-400 km2 of habitat there, most unsurveyed, but if records are sparse there it would be telling. I seem to have no records during a 2010 visit to Mutis.
In Timor-Leste – over c. 900 days have 213 records (totalling 1380 birds, ave: 5.4 birds/excluding one individual record of 250 birds) where they can be locally common from sea-level to the mountains – I guess my highest elevation records are around 1700 m. Many of my records are historical but I have had at least 41 records since 2017 (total 147 birds, mean: 3.6 birds) including interesting records of 20 birds on the north coast near Bazartete in mixed Eucalyptus/Coffee/agricultural land. They seem to have a strong preference for tropical forest such as Nino Konis Santana National Park, as well as montane tropical forest. Eucalyptus forest is extensive in lowland and montane areas of Timor-Leste but I cannot remember any use of that habitat. They do like lowland riverine forest dominated by Casuarina (the record of 250 birds at edge of Lautem in 2003) – theres a 30-40m tall undescribed Casuarina that occurs in thick groves along streams in Timor-Leste and also Wetar.
I estimate the Timor-Leste population could be 5-10,000+. Birds are captured and sold, but we have little idea of the scale, and whether birds are traded into Indonesia. Seemingly small numbers are kept in Timorese houses. No particularly noticeable decline – but needs specific attention to confirm.
Rote – I have just 3 records [4 total] in Dec 2004 of 2,2,1 birds on the northern peninsular. I possibly walked about 60km or so in remote areas, so the low rate of records at that time is notable. In 2024 I had a single record of 2 birds. Remote areas of Rote further into forest in this northern peninsula could hold a small population maybe 50-100 birds, though actually I did access about 10% of that remote forest in 2004 and had hardly any records. Possible for a small population but clearly has been subject to intense harvest.
Mees/Verheijen had no Rote records – unsurprising as Verheijen only visited the southern part of Rote – they were either always uncommon, or had been trapped out by the 1970s. Not sure if there would be much demand that early on. Remarkably Paul Jepson recorded Great-billed Parrot at Seda but had no lorikeets, so they were gone during 1990s.
Semau – most recent record seems to be 1859/Wallace. I've spent about 8 days on the island since 2012, but have no records. Likely extirpated – TBC.