Bird Guide

Little Lorikeet vs Purple-crowned Lorikeet

Little Lorikeet (Parvipsitta pusilla)

Little Lorikeet

Parvipsitta pusilla

39 gForest

Measuring 15 cm (5.9 in) in length, the male and female are similarly coloured, although the latter is a little duller. The crown, lores and throat are red, the nape and shoulder bronze-coloured and the remainder of the plumage green. The belly is paler and yellow-green. In adults, the bill is black and the iris golden in colour. Immature individuals have a paler orange face and a brown iris and bill.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · CC0
Purple-crowned Lorikeet (Parvipsitta porphyrocephala)

Purple-crowned Lorikeet

Parvipsitta porphyrocephala

45 gShrubland

Measuring around 15 cm (6 in) long, the male purple-crowned lorikeet is a small lorikeet with a dark purple crown, a yellow-orange forehead and ear-coverts, deepening to orange lores, and green upperparts, tinted bronze on the mantle and nape. The chin, chest and belly are a conspicuous powder blue, while the thighs and under-tail coverts are yellowish-green. The green tail has some orange-red coloration at the bases of the lateral feathers. The large crimson patches under the wings are visible when the bird is in flight. The small beak is black, the iris brown and the feet grey.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: derivative work: Snowmanradio (talk) Purple-crowned_Lorikeet_(Glossopsitta_porphyrocephala)_-pair_by_nesting_box.jpg: Ruth Ellison · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Little Lorikeet and Purple-crowned Lorikeet.