Lorikeet

Lorikeet (the Loriinae subfamily) is any of 53 species of medium-sized vocal and exceptionally colorful parrots such as red lory parrot of New Guinea and Australia that feed on pollen and nectar. They hold brush-tipped tongues, which help sweep food into the mouth. They also eat small insects and are essential pollinators of several trees, including coconut palms. Lories hold shorter tails, but they are the same and belong to a similar subfamily.

Rainbow Lorikeet 

The rainbow lorikeet (which is called Trichoglossus moluccanus) is a species of parrot such as red lory parrot that is found in Australia. It's thought to be widespread along Australia's eastern shore, from northern Queensland to South Australia. Coastal bush, rainforest, and woodland regions are its natural habitats. Many taxa that were once considered subspecies of the rainbow lorikeet are now considered distinct species, with six species recognised.

Rainbow lorikeets have been introduced to Western Australia, Perth; Auckland, New Zealand; Tasmania; and Hong Kong.

About Lorikeet

With 21 races spread over the southwestern Pacific, the rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) is one of the most beautiful and varied of the group. Many of the races of this 150-gram (5-ounce) species have blue heads, red bills, black feet, and green wings though the pattern and color of the neck, chest, and belly differ dramatically. Screeching, chattering groups eat nectar and fruit in the high canopy and nest in hollow trees, sometimes in the company of other nectar- and fruit-eating species. At night they gather, and sometimes by the thousands, in communal roosts. The dusky lorikeet (Psittaculidae family) and musk lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna family) also belongs to the red collar lorikeet families.

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In the dry scrub of the Southern Australia region, breathtakingly colorful purple-crowned lorikeets (called Glossopsitta porphyrocephala) gather in a few nomadic flocks to eat fruit, pollinating the flowering mallee in the process. The head features red-and-yellow cheek pads in addition to the deep purple crown. The chest and chin are sky blue, while the undersides of the green wings are decorated with blue, green, and red. Colonies of these lorikeets usually nest in tree holes. Though both the members of a pair may roost in the unlined hollow, only the female one incubates either two or three eggs.

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Description

The rainbow lorikeet seems to be a medium-sized parrot such as red lory parrot, having a length ranging from 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in), including its tail. The weight differs from 75 to 157 g (2.6 to 5.5 oz). The nominate race's plumage, like that of all the subspecies, is extremely bright. The head is dark blue with a greenish-yellow nuchal collar, while the rest of the body is green (wings, tail, and back). The chest might be yellow or orange in colour. The belly is a rich blue colour, with a green rump and thighs. In flight, a yellow wing-bar stands out against the red underwing coverts.

There is very little to visually differentiate between the sexes.

Juveniles hold a black beak that gradually brightens to orange in the adults.

The Trichoglossus moluccanus' markings resemble those of the Coconut Lorikeet (which is Trichoglossus haematodus), whereas, with a blue belly and a more orange breast either with little or zero blue-black barring.

Behavior

Often, the rainbow lorikeets travel together in pairs, and they occasionally respond to calls to fly as a flock and then disperse again into pairs. Rainbow lorikeet pairs will aggressively defend their feeding and nesting areas against the other rainbow lorikeets and bird species. They frighten not just tiny birds like the noisy miner and the little wattlebird, but also larger birds like the Australian magpie.

Diet

Rainbow lorikeets feed primarily on pollen, fruit, and nectar and possess a tongue adapted especially for their specific diet. A papillate appendage at the tip of the tongue is suited to sucking nectar and collecting pollen from flowers. Nectar from eucalyptus is very important in Australia, and the other important nectar sources are given as Grevillea, Pittosporum, Metroxylon sagu (sago palm) and Spathodea campanulate (African tulip-tree).

In Melanesia, coconuts are the most important food source, and rainbow lorikeets are essential pollinators of these. They also eat Trema, Ficus, Mutingia, and mangoes, papaya, and fruits that have previously been opened by fruit bats. In addition, they eat crops such as apples and will raid sorghum and maize. They are regular visitors to garden bird feeders that provide sunflower seeds, store-bought nectar, and fruits like grapes, apples, and pears.

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In several places, including suburban gardens and campsites, wild lorikeets are so used to humans, which they can be hand-fed. The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary present in Queensland, Australia, is noted for its thousands of lorikeets. Around 8 AM and 4 PM every day, the birds gather in a huge, noisy flock in the main area of the park. Visitors are invited to give the birds nectar that has been specifically prepared, and the birds will happily eat it from the visitors' arms and heads. Also, wild rainbow lorikeets can be hand-fed by visitors at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Queensland, Brisbane, and Australia.

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Semi-tame lorikeets are the common daily visitors in several Sydney backyards, though most of the people, ignorant of their dietary requirements, feed them either bread or bread coated with honey. This is given as an inadequate source of the nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that the rainbow lorikeet requires and may lead to feather formation and health issues in the young lorikeets. Packet mixes having a nutritional mix suitable for feeding lorikeets are generally available from pet stores and vets.

Caring for a Rainbow Lorikeet

Overall, the rainbow lorikeets are excellent pets for those who hold plenty of free time to spend with them. Also, rainbow lorikeets love to play and require to be provided with plenty of toys to keep their minds and beaks busy.

These birds require a large flight cage or aviary. The minimum size for a cage should be 4 feet long by 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Avoid wooden cages that may be ripped apart by their beaks, and instead choose for a robust metal cage.

Taxonomy

Rainbow lorikeets are said to be the true parrots within the Psittacoidea superfamily in the order Psittaciformes. They include two subspecies: the Northern Moluccan Lorikeet (which is called Trichoglossus moluccanus septentrionalis) and the Swainson's Lorikeet (which is called Trichoglossus moluccanus moluccanus), which includes the Lake Eyre Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus eyrei).

Often, the rainbow lorikeet has included the Red-collared lorikeet (which is T. rubritorquis) as a subspecies, but nowadays, most of the primary authorities consider it separate. In addition, a review in 1997 was led to the recommendation of splitting off a few of the most distinctive taxa from the Lesser Sundas as separate species, where these being the marigold lorikeet (T. capistratus), scarlet-breasted lorikeet (T. forsteni) and the Flores lorikeet (T. weberi). This is increasingly followed by the majority of the authorities. In 2019, the rainbow lorikeet present in Australia was split into 3: coconut (Trichoglossus haematodus), rainbow and Red-collared lorikeets (Trichoglossus rubritorquis).

Breeding

In the southern Australia region, breeding usually takes place from late winter to early summer (i.e., August to January). Elsewhere in Australia, the breeding has been recorded each month except March, varying from region to region because of the changes in climate and food availability. Nesting places vary, however they might include hollows in tall trees, such as palm trunks, or overhanging rock, eucalypts, and even holes in the ground on predator-free islets in the Admiralty Islands. Other rainbow lorikeet pairs or other bird species have been seen to nest in the same tree as pairs of rainbow lorikeets. The clutch size is in between one and three eggs that are incubated for up to 25 days. Incubation duties are generally carried out by the female alone.

Status of Lorikeet

Overall, the rainbow lorikeet bird remains widespread, and they are often common. It is the most often observed bird in Australia, according to the yearly Birdlife Australia census. Therefore, it is considered to be the least concern by BirdLife International. The status for a few localized subspecies is precarious, with especially T. h. rosenbergii, which is the Biak Lorikeet bird (that possibly is worthy of treatment as a separate species), being threatened by the habitat loss and capture for the parrot trade.

As a Pest

The rainbow lorikeet bird was accidentally released into Western Australia's southwest in the 1960s, close to the University of Western Australia, and has since been classed as a pest.

A feral population of rainbow lorikeets was formed in New Zealand after a resident of the North Shore, Auckland, unlawfully released large numbers of captive-reared birds in the region in the 1990s, which began reproducing in the wild. By 1999, a self-sustaining feral population of around 150–200 birds had been established in the region by proving that they could survive and adapt to the environment of New Zealand.

Also, the Department of Conservation, concerned that rainbow lorikeets would outcompete native honeyeaters and by the possible threat to the pristine island habitats such as Little Barrier Island, has begun eradicating the feral population in 2000. MPI (Ministry of Primary Industries) Bio-security, in partnership with regional councils and DOC, now manages the rainbow lorikeets under the initiative of the National Interest Pest Response. The aim of this response is to prevent the rainbow lorikeets from becoming established in the wild. Late in 2010, 5 of these birds were discovered that are living in the Mount Maunganui area. And, they were fed for some days before being trapped by a contractor of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries.

Temperament

Rainbow lorikeets are affectionate and sweet birds, which are known for their friendly personalities and comical antics. In general, these birds are easy to socialize, friendly and value interaction with their human keepers.

During their training, hand-feed these young birds. They will become acclimated to the human's touch and can be less nippy.

This bird is a highly intelligent bird, which can learn tricks with other behaviors. Because it is very smart, it is a capable escape artist. Where the cage door locks are a must.

Most lories get along well with the other bird species, but they can be more territorial and become quite jealous.  They can become vicious with the birds of their species and should never be left unsupervised with any other birds.