jlw45: ...........sorry...............i'm still bucking for that position with that wildlife photojournalist
You may just get that position too! ..for saying a "Lorikeet'...here is the scientific deffinition to end all debate ...
Kuhl's Lorikeet Vini kuhlii
Described by: Vigors (1824)
Alternate common name(s): Kuhl's Lory, Ruby
Lorikeet, Rimatara Lorikeet, Scarlet-breasted Lorikeet, Ruby Lory
Identification 18 cm. Fast-flying parakeet with pointed tail. Mostly dark green above, crimson-red cheeks and underparts. Dark purple patch on nape (of young birds only). Orange-red bill. Dull orange feet. Voice Harsh screech. Hints Found in residential areas and flowering trees, usually in pairs or in small groups.
Range & population Vini kuhlii is restricted to Rimatara in the Tubuai Islands (and according to local people may have occurred on Rurutu in the past). W.Ellis contrasted Rimatara with Rurutu in the 1820 by saying that Rimatara is known to have many colourful parrots, and there is no other historic or archeological reason for believing that the lorikeet was naturalised on Rurutu12, French Polynesia, and to Teraina (= Washington), Tabuaeran (= Fanning) and Kiritimati (= Christmas Island), Kiribati. Fossil and oral traditions indicate that the species was formerly on at least five of the Southern Cook Islands1,4. On Rimatara, the population was estimated at c.905 birds (minimum) following survey work in 1992, and then at c.7507, and then at 610 individuals in 2004.
In April 2007 twenty-seven birds were re-introduced to Atiu in the Cook Islands from Rimatara. Atiu has similar vegetation to Rimatara and is free of black rat Rattus rattus, although Pacific rat R. exulans is abundant. On Teraina, the population is estimated at 1,000 individuals (minimum), with 50 on Tabuaeran, possibly fewer, on a single islet in the atoll5. On Kiritimati in 1999, a few individuals were reported to survive6.