From Opus

Photo by mehdhalaouate
Noosa Heads, Australia, May 2005

Trichoglossus haematodus

Includes: Biak Lorikeet; Coconut Lorikeet

[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 the Moluccas (Indonesia) to New Guinea and adjacent islands to eastern and south-eastern Australia.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies

About 11 subspecies are recognized^[1]:

• T. h. rosenbergii: Biak Island (off northern New Guinea)
• T. h. intermedius: Northern New Guinea (Sepik River to Astrolabe Bay) and Manam Island
• T. h. haematodus: Southern Moluccas, western Papuan islands and western New Guinea
• T. h. nigrogularis: Eastern Kai Islands, Aru Islands and southern New Guinea
• T. h. brooki: Known from two cage birds from Trangan Island (Aru Islands)
• T. h. micropteryx: New Guinea east of Huon Peninsula; Kimuta and adjacent islands
• T. h. nesophilus: Admiralty Islands (Ninigo and Hermit groups)
• T. h. flavicans: New Hanover and Admiralty Islands
• T. h. massena: Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
• T. h. deplanchii: New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands
• T. h.s moluccanus: Eastern and south-eastern Australia (Cape York to Eyre Peninsula, South Australia)

Several species have been split from these taxon recently: Red-collared Lorikeet, Leaf Lorikeet, Marigold Lorikeet and Sunset Lorikeet.
Gill and Donsker also split rosenbergii from Biak as Biak Lorikeet and the remaining subspecies into two species: Rainbow Lorikeet (Australia) and Coconut Lorikeet (Moluccas, New Guinea). However, other authorities have not yet adopted these splits.

[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.

[edit] Breeding

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] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View movie-clip (in .flv format) here
• View movie-clip (in vodpod format) here