Eb Cravens from Hawaii, well-known around the world for his natural, innovative and caring ways with parrots, talks to Pauline James about one of his favourite birds.

The Goldie’s Lorikeet (Psitteuteles goldiei) inhabits the tropical montane forests in the mountains of central West Papua, Indonesia and neighbouring Papua New Guinea. Its range is vast, remains largely untouched and the wild population is currently suffering no substantial threats. The lorikeet is reported to be common locally, depending on food availability, and the population appears to be stable. Its official status is of ‘least concern.’

The Goldie’s is one of the smaller lorikeet species and is exceptionally attractive with brightly coloured plumage. It is bright green on its upperparts and a much lighter yellowy-green streaked with dark green on its underside. Due to these unusual markings they are sometimes referred to as the ‘little watermelon bird.’ Its head is plum-coloured with mauve streaks, the crown and forehead are bright red, the back of the head bluish, its beak black, its irises brown and its legs greenish-brown.

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