From Opus

Trichoglossus haematodus

Photo by mehdhalaouate.
Photo taken: Noosa Heads, Australia.

[edit] Identification

The Rainbow Lorikeet is up to about 14 inches (35 cm) long. They weigh about 5 ounces (133 grams). These parrots have brightly-colored red, green, blue, yellow, and orange feathers; the curved bill is red. The males and females are hard to distinguish.

[edit] Distribution

Found from Bali eastwards over the Lesser Sundas to New Guinea and adjacent islands to E and SE Australia.

[edit] Taxonomy

The Red-collared Lorikeet is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of this species.
About 19 subspecies are recognized.

[edit] Habitat

The prefered habitat is coastal forests as well as urban gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

Noisy flocks of up to several hundred may congregate in flowering trees to feed and roost, at times in the company of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets. Breeding in the wild is from August to January. There are 2 to 3 white eggs in each clutch (a set of eggs laid in one nesting period). The eggs are laid in a tree cavity high above the ground. The female incubates the eggs for 25-26 days, and the male feeds her. Both parents will feed the chicks.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID
• View movie-clip (in .flv format) here
• View movie-clip (in vodpod format) here