Lorikeet

The lorikeet is among the most colorful birds in the entire world.

They almost seem to luxuriate in their bold and garish plumage. As a type of arboreal parrot, there are about 40 documented species of lorikeets, the most well-known probably being the rainbow lorikeet. They are closely related to other types of arboreal parrots called the lories.

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The main physical difference is that lorikeets tend to be smaller in size with long, tapering tails and a dominant green plumage instead of red. Together they are distinguished from other parrots by the presence of a brush-like tongue.

4 Lorikeet Amazing Facts

• The lorikeet performs incredibly talented acrobatic feats. Its strong beak and claws enable them to hang upside down from branches to gather food below.
• The lorikeet is an important pollinator of the coconut palm and other plants. The pollen sticks to their feathers and then falls to the ground far away from its original destination.
• A single lorikeet flock may contain hundreds or even thousands of birds.
• The red-collared lorikeet from Darwin, Australia is believed to get drunk on fermented fruit. The physical symptoms can last for a few days and cause respiratory problems. This suggests there may be something unusual happening with the bird’s physiology beyond just mere drunkenness.

Evolution and Origins

Belonging to the Loriinae family, lorikeets are a species of parrots indigenous to Australia and New Guinea. With approximately 53 distinct species, these vibrant birds are renowned for their colorful plumage and expressive nature.

The Australian rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) is a type of parrot that inhabits various regions of the country. It is prevalent along the eastern coast, spanning from northern Queensland to South Australia. The species thrives in environments such as rainforests, coastal bushes, and woodland areas.

Health and Entertainment for your Lorikeet

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Lorikeets possess specialized beaks that enable them to crush flowers, facilitating easier access to pollen and nectar. However, their unique feeding adaptations don’t end there. The tips of their tongues are equipped with miniature hair-like structures known as papillae, resembling tiny brushes when extended.

Where to Find Them

The lorikeet can be found in forests, mangroves, and eucalyptus groves across Australia and parts of Southeast Asia. It is well-adapted for both hot and cold temperatures.

Lorikeet Nests

Lorikeets usually construct nests in tree hollows high above the ground, but they’ve also been observed nesting in rock crevices or ground holes. Many of their nests are layered with decayed wood.

Scientific Name

The lorikeet has traditionally belonged to a subfamily called Lorrinae (a subfamily is a taxonomical designation below a family but above a tribe or genus). The name of the subfamily, lory, derives from a traditional Malay word for a kind of parrot. They are closely related to the budgerigar and the fig parrot.

The Different Types

• Rainbow lorikeet
• Coconut lorikeet
• Trichoglossus
• Red lory
• Chattering lory
• Black-capped lory
• Musk lorikeet
• Black lory
• Black-winged lory
• Papuan lorikeet
• Blue-streaked lory
• Lorius
• Iris lorikeet
• Yellow-streaked lory
• Brown lory
• Violet-necked lory
• Varied lorikeet
• Cardinal lory
• Eos
• Charmosyna
• Red-and-blue lory
• Vini
• Goldie’s lorikeet
• Red-flanked lorikeet
• Yellow-billed lorikeet
• Blue-fronted lorikeet
• Striated lorikeet
• Josephine’s lorikeet
• New Caledonian lorikeet
• Fairy lorikeet
• Duchess lorikeet
• Red-throated lorikeet
• Orange-billed lorikeet
• Saudareos
• Palm lorikeet
• Charmosynopsis

Size, Appearance, and Behavior

While the lorikeet looks very much like a traditional parrot, there are a few important differences to distinguish them. The big, sharp beak has a slightly narrower structure than most parrots.

The exquisitely colored plumage has a base green color with various patches and patterns of blue, red, purple, and black. The long brush-like tongue is also completely unique to lories and lorikeets. Extending from the mouth, the tongue gathers up food with very fine hairs called papillae. Depending on the species, this bird can measure anywhere between 5 and 13 inches from head to tail.

Lorikeets are highly animated and noisy types of birds with a well-developed social life. While some species are a little aggressive about defending territory from other birds, more often than not they like to mix together in massive flocks of hundreds or even thousands of individuals.

These large groups travel up to 30 miles together during the day in search of food and sometimes even fly between different islands that are within the bird’s natural range. Lorikeets are not generally migratory, but some species, like the rainbow lorikeet, move around nomadically based on the season to take advantage of different foods.

About 70% of their day is occupied with this search for food. They also spend a lot of time grooming their partners during the rest periods. At night they gather together in communal roosts to sleep. This behavior changes slightly in the mating season when more of their time is occupied with raising the young.

Diet

These birds are perhaps best described as opportunistic omnivores. Their diet may include hundreds or thousands of different plant species, which can shift throughout the year.

What does the lorikeet eat?

Unlike most types of arboreal parrots, the bird does not predominantly consume nuts and seeds. Instead, it prefers to eat flowers, fruits, nectar, and pollen. The beak is sharp enough to tear apart flowers, while the specialized tongue contains fine hairs that enable them to gather nectar and pollen and extract the juice from fruits. They also sometimes supplement their diet with insects. Because of their comparatively softer diet, lorikeets are thought to have a weaker gizzard (the part of the bird’s stomach that grinds down rough food).

Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status

These birds face a number of threats in the wild, including predation, deforestation, hunting, and the illegal pet trade. Their brightly-colored feathers are especially prized by people all over the world, and their habit of consuming domestic plants has also put them in conflict with farmers. Most species are currently classified as least concern by the IUCN Red List, but there are several exceptions; the red-throated lorikeet, New Caledonian lorikeet, and the blue-fronted lorikeet are all critically endangered.

What eats the lorikeet?

This bird is preyed upon by falcons, kites, pythons, and even domesticated animals. Since most species live on Pacific islands, they have mostly evolved in the absence of large predatory mammals, though this has changed slightly with the introduction of outside invasive species. Lorikeets hide in holes or fly in the air to avoid predators.

Reproduction, Young, and Molting

Based on close observation, these birds appear to remain monogamous for much of their lives. They can breed at any time of the year, except in southern Australia, where the breeding season occurs between August and January.

After mating, the female will lay two eggs at a time and then incubate them for about 25 days. The father helps feed the chicks, while the mother is responsible for most of the incubation duties.

After about seven or eight weeks, the chicks have grown their flight feathers and begin learning how to fly. It can take anywhere between one and three years to reach full sexual maturity. Lorikeets have a typical lifespan of seven to 10 years in the wild but can live 15 to 20 years in captivity.

Population

It is not known how many of these birds currently remain in the wild. There are likely thousands or tens of thousands of mature individuals per species, but many of them appear to be decreasing in number. In order to preserve the remaining populations, it will be necessary to end rampant deforestation and poaching in their native habitat.

1. Britannica, Available here: https://www.britannica.com/animal/lorikeet
2. San Diego Zoo, Available here: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/lory-and-lorikeet
3. Petco, Available here: https://www.petco.com/content/petco/PetcoStore/en_US/pet-services/resource-center/caresheets/lory-and-lorikeet.html
4. Critter Science, Available here: https://critter.science/say-hello-to-the-beautiful-lorikeet/