Australian Rainbow Lorikeet
Australian Rainbow Lorikeet Scientific Name: Trichoglossus haemotodus moluccanus
Class: AVES (Birds) Order: Psittaciformes Physical Adaptations: Bill, orange to red; Head, blue to deep brown lightly flecked with pale violet; Breast, orange; Collar, yellow; Upperparts & Tail, green. “Brush” Tongue (Tip of tongue has papillae that are designed to facilitate feeding on nectar and particularly pollen. Strong Flyers
Behavioral Adaptations: Courtship of the male involves dancing up and down, hanging upside down, head bobbing , hissing and perhaps most intriguing dilating the pupil. Known to travel long distances to find trees in blossom, sometimes over open seas from is-
Habitat/Biome: Common in lowlands, settled areas, forests, coconut plantations, savanna, stands of eucalyptus and mangroves. Distribution: Torres Strait Islands and East Australia, inland Western Australia
Status: Common and widespread Special Notes: IUCN Category: LC (least concern) CITIES Listing: Appendix 11 Threats Include: Birds of Prey such as raptors like the peregrine falcon, brown falcon, whistling kite. Other predators include the diamond python. In general, lories and lorikeets on islands of Indonesia are endangered by black rats.
Primary Diet: (In the wild) Nectar and Pollen, but also beetles, small grubs, fruit (including mangoes and figs opened by fruit bats) CARNIVORE
Fun Facts: Very Sociable within their own species Very Curious Clownish and Playful Adapt easily to humans Shrill screech often used during courting as well as eye dilation
Additional Notes: Incubation: 25 days Clutch: usually 2 and sometimes three eggs Weight: 2.5– 5.5 ounces. Length: 10-12 inches Life Span: unknown Information Sources : Lories and Lorikeets, Low 1977 Hancock House Encyclopedia of Lorikeets –1998 (Rosemary Low) CMZ Lorikeet Lane Red Book
Class: AVES (Birds) Order: Psittaciformes Physical Adaptations: Bill, orange to red; Head, blue to deep brown lightly flecked with pale violet; Breast, orange; Collar, yellow; Upperparts & Tail, green. “Brush” Tongue (Tip of tongue has papillae that are designed to facilitate feeding on nectar and particularly pollen. Strong Flyers
Behavioral Adaptations: Courtship of the male involves dancing up and down, hanging upside down, head bobbing , hissing and perhaps most intriguing dilating the pupil. Known to travel long distances to find trees in blossom, sometimes over open seas from is-
Habitat/Biome: Common in lowlands, settled areas, forests, coconut plantations, savanna, stands of eucalyptus and mangroves. Distribution: Torres Strait Islands and East Australia, inland Western Australia
Status: Common and widespread Special Notes: IUCN Category: LC (least concern) CITIES Listing: Appendix 11 Threats Include: Birds of Prey such as raptors like the peregrine falcon, brown falcon, whistling kite. Other predators include the diamond python. In general, lories and lorikeets on islands of Indonesia are endangered by black rats.
Primary Diet: (In the wild) Nectar and Pollen, but also beetles, small grubs, fruit (including mangoes and figs opened by fruit bats) CARNIVORE
Fun Facts: Very Sociable within their own species Very Curious Clownish and Playful Adapt easily to humans Shrill screech often used during courting as well as eye dilation
Additional Notes: Incubation: 25 days Clutch: usually 2 and sometimes three eggs Weight: 2.5– 5.5 ounces. Length: 10-12 inches Life Span: unknown Information Sources : Lories and Lorikeets, Low 1977 Hancock House Encyclopedia of Lorikeets –1998 (Rosemary Low) CMZ Lorikeet Lane Red Book
