The Blue-fronted Lorikeet, one of Indonesia’s most elusive birds, has been photographed on Buru Island in April. This is the first time in 12 years.
An Indonesian mountaineering group spotted the endemic parrot on Buru’s highest peak after days of climbing through limestone, insects and difficult mountain terrain. Moreover, the team also captured the first sound recordings of its high-pitched calls.
The bird’s bright green body, orange bill, blue hindcrown and pointed tail helped the team confirm its identity.
John Mittermeier, director of the Search for Lost Birds at the American Bird Conservancy, said the search felt unlikely. This is because the species had only one confirmed photographic record in the past century.
“There are no other birds on the island that look like the lorikeets, so when we saw them we knew immediately what they were,” Mittermeier said. He added that the team saw at least nine birds during the expedition.
The Blue-fronted Lorikeet was first described from seven specimens collected in the 1920s. It then went unrecorded for nearly 90 years before a 2014 photograph confirmed it had survived.
Researchers had suspected the bird may have remained in higher mountain areas that earlier search teams could not reach. Local climbers recently mapped a route into the highlands where the species was found.
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James Eaton, a birder involved in the expedition, said rain, jagged limestone, river torrents and lack of trails made the climb difficult. In addition, he called the bird the team’s reason for attempting the route.
The Blue-fronted Lorikeet was listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN Red List. It was recognised in 2024 as a lost species by Search for Lost Birds, a partnership between American Bird Conservancy, Re:wild and BirdLife International.
Mittermeier said more work is needed to determine the bird’s population size and possible threats.
