David Siems wrote:
>
> Hi Netters,
> A friend of mine lives 14km south/west of Sydney and has
> numerous Rainbow Lorikeets feeding on his native trees each day.
> One afternoon he noticed a different call in the flock and
> found
> a Red-collared Lorikeet, with leg ring. It was chased by the Rainbows,
> but
> persisted in staying.
> After two months it is now accepted by the group but the
> surprising outcome is, it has changed its call to be the same as the
> Rainbows and now cannot be recognised by call.
> Has anyone knowledge of this happening to this species?
>
> All the Best
> David Siems
> Sydney, Australia
> Phone: +61 (0)2 9759 1891
> Email:
Red Collared Lorikeets are considered these days to be a subspecies of
the Rainbow 'keet. Your bird with its leg-ring was probably an escapee.
I don't know if Redcollareds really have different calls from Rainbows
in the wild, but perhaps this bird had imitated a different call from
cage-mates before its escape. Its new call now matches its flock-mates -
I dont think we should be surprised that it learnt to do so. Parrots are
mimics after all.
Footnote (?clawnote) - do Red-collared Lorikeets intergrade with
Rainbows anywhere in northern Australia - or in PNG or in the Pacific?
Anthea Fleming in Melbourne
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