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HABITAT
The rainbow lorikeet is found mainly
in eastern Australia and on islands in the South Pacific. It lives in woodlands or at the
edges of forests, where vegetation is not very dense. The lorikeet is also seen in gardens
and parks. The city of Sydney has a flourishing population.
In northern Australia the birds stay in the
same area all year round. Farther south, where vegetation changes with the seasons, they
are nomadic, constantly on the move in search of flowers and fruit.
CHARACTERISTICS
The rainbow lorikeet spends most of its life in
trees. It usually comes down to the ground only to drink. Like all parrots, its feet are
adapted for perching in trees. It curls its four toes around a branch-- two in front and
two behind.
Above: The rainbow lorikeet's
plumage is a familiar sight in Australian gardens.
Above: Once fledged, the young lorikeet
roosts at the nest for a few days.
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The rainbow lorikeet is one of
Australia's most colorful birds. With its large curved bill and bright plumage, it is
easily recognized as a member of the parrot order.
BREEDING
The rainbow lorikeet usually breeds between August and January.
The nest site is well above the ground, usually in the hollow of a tree. The mating pair
does little to the nest site except to line it with a cushion of decayed wood dust.
Rainbow lorikeets live in noisy flocks. The size of a flock can vary from a few birds to
several hundred if food is plentiful. At night the birds settle down in communal roosts,
and their loud voices subside to a twitter.
The female lays two white eggs, which she incubates for
about 25 days. The male does not help to incubate the eggs, but he takes part in feeding
the chicks. Approximately seven or eight weeks after hatching, the chicks are able to fly.
Above: Lorikeets often perch in
eucalyptus trees.
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FOOD & FEEDING
The rainbow lorikeet has a varied diet. It eats berries, seeds,
leaf buds, insects, and larvae, but its favorite foods are pollen, nectar, and fruit. The
bird crushes flowers or fruit in its beak and then laps up the juices with its tongue,
which has a brushlike tip.
Because large flocks of rainbow lorikeets can cause great
damage to orchards, the birds are sometimes hunted and killed by farmers. A flock of
rainbow lorikeets can often be found feeding beside other parrots as well as honeyeaters
and flowerpeckers. The flock may travel long distances in search of food, landing when one
of the birds spots a good food supply.
The rainbow lorikeet leaves its nighttime roosting
site at sunrise to set off in search of food. When the sun becomes too hot, it rests in
the shade of a tree. Then the lorikeet feeds until sunset, when it returns to its roost.
KEY FACTS
Length:
10-11 in.
Weight: 3 1/2-5 1/2 oz.
Breeding season: Mainly August to
January in Australia but also in most other months.
Eggs: Usually 2, white. Incubation:
3 1/2 weeks.
Fledging period: 7-8 weeks.
Habit: Sociable. Lives in flocks.
Diet: Mainly pollen, nectar, and fruits but also
seeds, berries, leaf buds, insects, and larvae,
Call: Sharp screech in flight, chatters while
feeding.
Lifespan: 10 years in the wild. |
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Did You Know?
The rainbow lorikeet has become a tourist attraction in South
Queensland, Australia. Visitors feed the birds a diluted honey mixture.
When feeding from flowers, the rainbow lorikeet transmits pollen
from one flower to the next. In doing so, it helps to pollinate shrubs and trees such as
coconut palms and eucalyptus trees.
The rainbow lorikeet is very agile. It can hang upside down from a
branch to reach the nectar and pollen of flowers. |
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