# Black-capped Lory (*Lorius lory*) The Black-capped Lory is a colorful parrot with a bright red body and a black head. They are playful and love to hang out in trees, making them fun to watch! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Black-capped Lory](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lorius_lory-20051118B.jpg&width=800) Photo: Doug Janson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lorius_lory-20051118B.jpg) ## Appearance The Black-capped Lory is a striking bird with a bright red body, contrasting black cap, and green wings. It features a distinctive blue patch on its back and bright yellow-orange legs. Its vibrant plumage helps it stand out against the forest foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Psittaciformes - **Family:** Psittacidae - **Genus:** Lorius ## Interesting facts - Black-capped Lories often enjoy bathing in rain showers to keep their feathers pristine! - Lories are known for playful antics, like chasing each other through the rainforest canopy. - Their very wet droppings are unique, a result of their special liquid nectar diet! - These clever birds can hang completely upside-down while feasting on tasty fruits. ## Special abilities - **Nectar Slurper:** Black-capped Lories have a brush-tipped tongue that helps them lap up sweet nectar and pollen from flowers quickly. - **Acrobatic Climber:** Black-capped Lories possess strong, zygodactyl feet perfect for gripping branches and climbing through dense canopy with ease. - **Quick-Fuel Digestion:** Black-capped Lories have a specialized digestive system that rapidly processes their liquid diet of nectar and fruit juices. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-32 cm - **Wingspan:** 45-60 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-0.26 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-30 years - **Clutch Size:** 2 - **Incubation:** 24-26 days ## Diet & Feeding They sip sweet nectar and juice from fruits, helping pollinate flowers and spread seeds. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, pollen, fruit pulp, flowers, small insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Blue Quandong (*Elaeocarpus angustifolius*) — Spreads pollen between flowers while drinking their sweet nectar. - **Eaten by:** Boelen's Python (*Python boeleni*) — A large tree-dwelling snake that may prey on lories. - **Depends on:** Weeping Fig (*Ficus benjamina*) — Relies on its sweet fruits and flowers for vital food sources. - **Eaten by:** New Guinea Harpy Eagle (*Harpyopsis novaguineae*) — A powerful forest raptor that hunts smaller birds. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black-capped Lory? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black-capped Lory? 30-32 cm ### What is Black-capped Lory's wingspan? 45-60 cm ### How much does Black-capped Lory weigh? 0.2-0.26 kg ### How long does Black-capped Lory live? 15-30 years ### What does Black-capped Lory eat? They sip sweet nectar and juice from fruits, helping pollinate flowers and spread seeds. ### Where is Black-capped Lory usually found? Forests ### How does Black-capped Lory hunt? Foraging ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Black-capped Lory: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-capped-lory)