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12

Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna) Alternate name(s): "Green Keet*", "Green Leek*" Size: 21-23 cm Weight: 60-90 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Musk Lorikeets are small to medium-sized lorikeets. They have a scarlet frons, lores and ear stripes and a turquoise cap (in race "didimus" the cap is green). The mantle is olive-brown and the sides of the chest are yellow. Otherwise their plumage is green. The underwings show green coverts and dark-brown flight feathers. The bill is grey with a red tip, the irises are orange, the legs and feet are dark-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Musk Lorikeet at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Musk Lorikeet is available HERE . Musk Lorikeets are endemic to Australia. Musk Lorikeets, nominate race "concinna", are most common along a narrow coastal strip from the NSW Central Coast to about Adelaide, SA. They are occasionally found much farther inland, into the catchment of the Murray River (i.e. most of VIC). There is a firmly established population in the North-West Slopes and Plains in inland NSW (around Tamworth, Gunnedah, Narrabri and towards Moree). Occasionally they are found as far North as Brisbane, QLD. Race "didimus" is found only in the South-East quarter of Tasmania, sometimes also extending it range towards the North of Tasmania. Musk Lorikeets can be found mostly in open forest, often with flowering eucalypts. They also frequent urban environments, such as parks and gardens.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "concinna" Musk Lorikeets, race "concinna", were first spotted by us in August 2007, in the township of Narrabri, NSW, where they were feasting on nectar from the blossoms of Mugga Ironbark eucalypts. They are seen by us in the Narrabri area semi-regularly, mostly when various species of eucalypts or bottlebrushes are flowering (which usually happens a few weeks/months after significant rainfall). Musk Lorikeets, race "concinna", were also spotted in Gunnedah, NSW, in October 2008; there tens of birds were taking advantage of the availability of bottlebrush blossoms at the time. In April 2011 hundreds of Musk Lorikeets, race "concinna", were observed by us in flowering eucalypts about 25 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, near Curlewis. C. Hayne reports that Musk Lorikeets, race "concinna", are found occasionally in the area of Moree, NSW. I. Duncan reports spotting Musk Lorikeets, race "concinna", in suburban Melbourne, e.g. in February 2012. R. Plumtree reports spotting Musk Lorikeets, race "concinna", near Murray Bridge, SA, in October 2016, and in Great Otway NP, VIC, in May 2019. M. Eaton found Musk Lorikeets, race "concinna", at the Botanical Gardens, Adelaide, SA, in April 2022. Race "didimus" B. Hensen reports spotting Musk Lorikeets, race "didimus", in Hobart, TAS, in March 2016. M. Eaton found Musk Lorikeets, race "didimus", at Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, in April 2021. Twitcher's tip Similar to other lorikeets, in particular Little Lorikeets, Musk Lorikeets are often hard to spot, because so quick. But one can always hear their calls when they are around. Once spotted, they are relatively easy to approach.

Photos

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Race "concinna"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a Musk Lorikeet feeding in a Mugga Ironbark eucalypt; the strong blue hues on crown and cheeks and also the pronounced bronze-coloured mantle indicate that this is a male
[Narrabri, NSW, August 2007]

Close-up near-frontal portrait of a male Musk Lorikeet
[Coolah, NSW, September 2018]

Close-up near-lateral portrait of a male Musk Lorikeet with pollen all over its forehead (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri, NSW, October 2020]

Male Musk Lorikeet hanging off a branch
[Coolah, NSW, September 2018]

Near-lateral view of a male Musk Lorikeet approaching a bird bath (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Adelaide, SA, April 2022]

Lateral portrait of a male Musk Lorikeet
[Coolah, NSW, September 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a male Musk Lorikeet
[Narrabri, NSW, March 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a male Musk Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Adelaide, SA, April 2022]

FEMALE

Frontal/ventral view of a female Musk Lorikeet, with its head turned, exhibiting the characteristic facial pattern
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2009]

Female Musk Lorikeet feeding on the nectar of a Mugga Ironbark eucalypt (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Ashburton, Melbourne, VIC, February 2012]

Dorsal view of a snoozing female Musk Lorikeet (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Ashburton, Melbourne, VIC, February 2012]

Ventral view of a Musk Lorikeet seen hanging off a branch; the absence of blue on its cheeks suggests that this is a female
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, November 2010]

Sex unknown

Dorsal view of a Musk Lorikeet responding to a challenge by opening its bill in a threatening gesture
[Narrabri, NSW, March 2014]

Ventral view of a Musk Lorikeet, showing the colour pattern of the underside of the tail feathers
[Narrabri, NSW, March 2014]

This Musk Lorikeet clearly has an issue with its right wing - when spotted it was under attack from both Pied Currawongs and Australian Ravens; this is the bird whose distress calls were recorded on 27 April 2018
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2018]

Flock of 15 Musk Lorikeets in flight
[Narrabri, NSW, February 2009]

Ventral view of a Musk Lorikeet in flight
[Narrabri, NSW, February 2009]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral portrait of a juvenile Musk Lorikeet feeding on the nectar of a bottlebrush; note the all-dark grey-brown bill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2016]

Frontal view of a begging dependent juvenile Musk Lorikeet; note the horn-coloured cere, pinkish feet and all-dark bill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a begging dependent juvenile Musk Lorikeet
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2021]

Adult feeding a dependent juvenile Musk Lorikeet
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2021]

Race "didimus"

ADULT

MALE

Lateral view of a male Musk Lorikeet; note the blue on cheek and crown (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Dorsal view of a male Musk Lorikeet feeding on nectar (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

FEMALE

Close-up frontal view of a female Musk Lorikeet (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Hobart, TAS, March 2016]

PAIR

Two Musk Lorikeets, probably a pair; the bird on the right is most likely a male, the one on the left a female - note the absence of blue from its cap (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Hobart, TAS, March 2016]

Hybrid

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In June 2011 a hybrid lorikeet was reported at Chain Valley Bay South, a bay of Lake Macquarie on the NSW Central Coast. We subsequently spotted a second hybrid, most likely between a Musk Lorikeet and a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet.

Hybrid lorikeet feeding; one can see clearly the orange scaling typical of a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet and the red forehead of a Musk Lorikeet
[Chain Valley Bay South, NSW, June 2011]

Different perspective
[Chain Valley Bay South, NSW, June 2011]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Dec

Eggs: 2

Incubation period: 22 days

Fledging age: 35 - 42 days

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female

The male feeds the female while she is incubating the eggs.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Tree hollow

Material: Wood dust

Height above ground: >10(?) m

Pair of Musk Lorikeets inspecting a potential nest hollow (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[July 2013]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 24 x 20 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Rounded

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Flock

Like other species of parrots, Musk Lorikeets are very sociable birds. There is a separate page describing Musk Lorikeets socializing and mating at the end of the day.

Musk Lorikeets like close companionship
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, November 2010]

In some respects birds are like humans: Male Musk Lorikeet enjoying licking the sweetness of nectar with eyes closed
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2016]

And like other species of parrots, they like taking regular baths. The ones shown below have found a bathtub inside a eucalypt trunk.

Lateral view of a male Musk Lorikeet in a bird bath (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Adelaide, SA, April 2022]

Getting out of a bathtub when all your feathers are wet is not always easy
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, November 2010]

Here a comparison - Musk Lorikeet coming out of the tub, left, vs. going in, right
[November 2010]

Food, Diet

Musk Lorikeets feed on nectar, as also shown in various photos above.

Frontal view of a Musk Lorikeet feeding on the nectar
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2021]

Musk Lorikeet, race "didimus", feeding on nectar in an eucalypt tree; note the absence of blue from its cap
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Hobart, TAS, March 2016]

Musk Lorikeet feeding on nectar
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, November 2010]

This lateral view of a Musk Lorikeet clearly shows the feeding technique - the bill is wide open and the bird uses its tongue to lick the nectar at the base of the eucalypt flower
[Narrabri, NSW, March 2014]

Musk Lorikeet taking psyllids/lerps from the underside of an eucalypt leaf
[Near Coolah, NSW, September 2018]

Musk Lorikeets feeding on buds and shoots
[Coolah, NSW, September 2018]

Musk Lorikeets feeding on buds and shoots
[Coolah, NSW, September 2018]

Musk Lorikeets feeding on buds and shoots
[Coolah, NSW, September 2018]

Musk Lorikeets approaching a water bowl in our garden at a time of drought
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2013]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

musklor_20180921.m4a	concinna (NW NSW)	Contact calls (group in flight)	© MD
musklor_20200919.m4a	concinna (NW NSW)	Contact calls (group in flight)	© MD
musklor_20220722_2.m4a	concinna (NW NSW)	Arrival & feeding (small mob)	© MD
musklor_20161026_3.m4a	concinna (NW NSW)	Arrival (small group)	© MD
musklor_20180427.m4a	concinna (NW NSW)	Distress calls (attacked by Pied Currawong & Australian Raven)	© MD
musklor_20220722.m4a	concinna (NW NSW)	Squabbling (food competition)	© MD
musklor_20220722_3.mp3	concinna (NW NSW)	Various (+ Swift Parrot)	© MD
musklor_20161026_2.m4a	concinna (NW NSW)	Begging/feeding call (immature)	© MD
musklor_20161026.m4a	concinna (NW NSW)	Begging/feeding calls (immature)	© MD
musklor_20211213.m4a	concinna (NW NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© MD
musklor_20221110.mp3	concinna (NW NSW)	Begging call (juvenile)	© MD

More Musk Lorikeet sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Wed, 16 November 2022, 19:58 +00:00