Black-Capped Lory
Description
The Black Capped Lory is a medium sized stocky bird with a short, slightly rounded tail.
In the wild they are seen in small groups of up to ten but most frequently live as single pairs. In their native habitat, the have an excellent food supply from dense rainforest. These birds typically form very strong bonds with their owners, a characteristic consistent with their wild habits of bonding only to one or two other birds.
Scientific Name
Lorius lory
Country Of Origin
Western New Guinea
Size
12 inches
Life Expectancy
28 plus years
Noise Level
Loud
Talk / Trick Ability
Excellent
Characteristics
Lories are known for their intelligence, and they enjoy entertaining an audience with tricks. Black-capped lories are also adept at learning to speak. They enjoy clowning around and sometimes lie on their backs in their cage. Because they are active, black-capped lories should have plenty of room in their pet bird cage to move around in, as well as supervised out-of-cage time to fly.
Behavior / Health Concerns
Black-capped lories can be quite loud, so ongoing .training is necessary to prevent this from becoming an issue. Because they are active birds, they need plenty of toys and entertainment to keep them occupied and happy. Part of their diet should consist of good-quality nectar. Black-capped lories have a tendency to squirt waste matter and because their diets contain nectar, the fairly liquidy waste can make the surrounding areas a challenge to keep clean. Placing plastic sheets on nearby walls and flooring will help with waste management.
Expert Advice
“Lories need special diets to avoid iron issues; they also have drug sensitivities.”
Kitty Remington, DVM, Dipl. ABVP-Avian Practice, Killearn Animal Hospital and Northampton Animal Health Clinic, Tallahassee, Fla.