Details
Trichoglossus moluccanus
The rainbow lorikeet is a brilliantly colored parrot of Australia and nearby regions. It feeds mainly on nectar and often moves in noisy, active flocks.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses Australasian forests, eucalyptus woodland, coastal scrub, parks, and gardens. Flowering trees draw birds into towns as well as native woodland.
Length is 25-30 cm and weight 75-157 g. A blue head, green back, orange breast, and yellow to red tones on the belly create its vivid rainbow pattern.
Diurnal birds travel in loose groups between flowering trees. At roosts they may gather in large numbers, with loud calls and restless flight.
A nectarivore, it uses a brush-tipped tongue to lap nectar and pollen. It also takes soft fruit, blossoms, and occasional seeds.
Pairs nest in tree hollows. The female mainly incubates, and both parents feed chicks with regurgitated food.
It is listed as Least Concern. The species is adaptable, though introduced populations can compete with native birds in some areas.
