Black Winged Lory

By John Nunn

Eos Cyanogenia (Bonaparte)

Length 30cm (12ins approx) weight 160 grams

They come from West Irian, Biak, Supiori, and other islands in Geelvink Bay and Indonesia

The breeding season with my particular Blackwings is June with up to 4 clutches of eggs being laid. Because this pair will not rear their chicks right through I have them hand reared or put under fosters for rearing. Two eggs are laid. Incubation is 24 to 25 days. Fledging take anywhere from 70 to 87 days. The young are noticeably different from their parents. Beaks are  black for about 6 months, also they have quite a bit more blue on the head, and the chest area is tinged with black. The blue on the top of the head and quite a bit of the black from the chest goes as they mature.

There should be no extra markings or colours on the wings as shown with the accompanying photos. If there is, chances are it is a hybrid of some sort. I have had one chick fledge last season with a bit more red on his shoulders. It seems to be going as he matures this shows that there can be differences from chick to chick. I am hoping this year to be able to sell or trade surplus from this coming season. Time will tell. The nest boxes I use are 250mm square by 600m high, with a lift off lid for cleaning and an inspection door about 100mm up from the bottom. Nest boxes do not need to be quite as large as mine. I put a selection of boxes and once they made their pick all others were removed. My flights are somewhat large with my adult pair in one measuring 2m wide x 18 m long and 2m high. The previous owner built these aviaries.

I am hoping that at least one other pair will start breeding this season. Signs are looking good with them starting to work the box.

Dry mix is ad lib and wet mix given fresh daily. Puha is relished; sweetcorn, apples, kiwifruit, tangelos, tamarellos and carrots are all fed.

Citrus fruit can be bought and frozen whole them thawed and cut in half with no loss of flavour or juice. If you have the space let them have grass in the aviaries, mine spend hours playing or bathing the wet grass. They also develop a taste for seed head of the different types growing there.

Last modified: 18 December 2001.