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12

Rainbow Lorikeet

(Trichoglossus haematodus)
Alternate name(s): "Blue Mountain Parrot", "Blue-bellied Lorikeet", "Coconut Lory"
Aboriginal name(s): "kalingaR" [tjapwurrung]

Size: 26-31 cm
Weight: 75-157 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Rainbow Lorikeet at Wikipedia .

Click here for classification information

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "moluccanus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal portrait of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, November 2021]

Close-up frontal portrait of a Rainbow Lorikeet
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2023]

Close-up frontal portrait of a Rainbow Lorikeet looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2023]

Frontal portrait of a Rainbow Lorikeet looking sideways (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2015]

Frontal view of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Broadwater, near Dalby, QLD, January 2018]

Frontal view of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, November 2021]

Frontal view of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Gilgandra, NSW, December 2013]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a snoozing Rainbow Lorikeet
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, November 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Rainbow Lorikeet checking its surroundings, head down
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2012]

Near-lateral portrait of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Gilgandra, NSW, April 2014]

Near-lateral view of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, November 2021]

Lateral portrait of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[South West Rocks, NSW, September 2012]

Close-up lateral view of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2021]

Nope, no mistake in the processing of this Rainbow Lorikeet photo... (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Gilgandra, NSW, December 2013]

View onto the back of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Home Hill, QLD, September 2019]

View onto the back of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Home Hill, QLD, September 2019]

Direct comparison of a Rainbow Lorikeet with a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2014]

Rainbow Lorikeets in flight
[Narrabri, NSW, April 2012]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2013]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Rainbow Lorikeet, now seen preening (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2013]

Close-up lateral portrait of a juvenile Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2013]

Lateral view of a juvenile Rainbow Lorikeet in a flowering White Cedar tree
[Coonabarabran, NSW, November 2018]

Juvenile Rainbow Lorikeet in a flowering White Cedar tree begging to be fed
[Coonabarabran, NSW, November 2018]

This juvenile Rainbow Lorikeet has a particularly dark bill
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2017]

Immature Rainbow Lorikeet in flight (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2013]

Adult Rainbow Lorikeet, left, with a dependent juvenile, right (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2013]

Adult Rainbow Lorikeet, right, feeding one of two dependent juveniles, left (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2013]

Two fledgling Rainbow Lorikeets in captivity

Race "eyrei"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Adelaide, SA, April 2022]

Near-frontal view of a Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Adelaide, SA, April 2022]

Race "septentrionalis"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Rainbow Lorikeet taking nectar from a Grevillea (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, July 2007]

Mob of Rainbow Lorikeets having a good time in the bird bath (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, December 2012]

Even more Rainbow Lorikeets at the spa (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, December 2012]

Rainbow Lorikeets licking leaves; it is not clear what it was after, water or possibly sap (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, February 2017]

Possible hybrid with Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

A possible hybrid between a Rainbow Lorikeet and a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet was spotted by us in the township of Narrabri in September 2015. If not a hybrid, the bird could just be a colour morph, or an aviary escapee (bred variety).

Possible hybrid between a Rainbow Lorikeet and a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet; note the bluish cap and strong scaling on the breast resembling a Rainbow Lorikeet, while the rest of the bird's appearance is that of a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (in particular the absence of a yellowish-green nape of the neck)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2015]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Nov Eggs: 2 - 3 Incubation period: 25 days Fledging age: 49 - 63 days

The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. Lorikeets are sociable creatures which often nest in loose colonies, also in conjunction with other species.

Rainbow Lorikeets working on the next generation; obviously, here the sexes can be determined - male on top...
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Tree hollow Material: Wood dust Height above ground: 5 - 30 m

Rainbow Lorikeets at the entrance to their nest hollow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Macquarie, NSW, January 2021]

Rainbow Lorikeet at the entrance to its nest hollow (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Perry Lakes, Perth, WA, September 2015]

Rainbow Lorikeets at the entrance to their nest hollow (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Perry Lakes, Perth, WA, September 2015]

Rainbow Lorikeets at the entrance to their nest hollow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

Rainbow Lorikeets inspecting a potential nest hollow (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2021]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 27 x 22 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: Flock

Rainbow Lorikeets are gregarious, often noisy. Roosting colonies can count thousands of birds. Settling in for the night and also their early-morning departures are events that nobody in the neighbourhood will miss - the noise is almost deafening.

Like other cockatoos and parrots, Rainbow Lorikeets have a division of labour during the breeding season. The female takes care of the egg incubation, during which she is dependent on him to feed her near the nest hollow. Prior to incubating, the female will therefore test the male's willingness and ability to feed her in a bonding ritual.

Male Rainbow Lorikeet feeding his partner (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2013]

These two Rainbow Lorikeets may also be bonding - "Rainbow Lambada" (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, May 2014]

Standoff at the bird feeder: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo vs. Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

Those keeping birds as pets will know that they do sneeze. Here one caught in the act.

"Oi mate, I hope you haven't got bird flu!" - Rainbow Lorikeet sneezing (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2014]

At the other end of the scale of emotions, Rainbow Lorikeets can squabble with the best of them.

Three Rainbow Lorikeets pecking each other while hanging head down
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2022]

Three Rainbow Lorikeets pecking each other
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2022]

Food, Diet

Rainbow Lorikeets feed on fruit, nectar and seeds.

Close-up view of a Rainbow Lorikeet licking up nectar
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2021]

Close-up view of a Rainbow Lorikeet licking up nectar from a Bottlebrush (Callistemon)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2023]

Rainbow Lorikeet feeding on the nectar of a Callistemon flower (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2011]

Rainbow Lorikeet feeding on the nectar of an ironbark eucalypt
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2021]

Rainbow Lorikeet feeding on the nectar of an ironbark eucalypt
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2021]

Lateral view of a Rainbow Lorikeet feeding on the nectar of a (Mugga?) ironbark eucalypt
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2015]

Two "Connoisseur" Rainbow Lorikeets feeding on flour right from the back of a delivery truck
[Wyong, NSW, July 2013]

Frontal view of a Rainbow Lorikeet feeding on bread crumbs in an urban park
[Kempsey, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral view of two Rainbow Lorikeets feeding on bread crumbs in an urban park
[Kempsey, NSW, October 2013]

These Rainbow Lorikeets like to nibble the buds off the flower stands of introduced palm trees (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Ashmore, Gold Coast, QLD, April 2015]

Here an example of Rainbow Lorikeets scavenging minced meat originally put out for other, carnivorous birds (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, December 2013]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

rainlor_art_20131110.m4a moluccanus
(SE QLD)
Contact calls © ART
rainlor_20230222.mp3 moluccanus
(NE NSW)
Contact calls (in-flight) © MD
rainlor_20191004.m4a moluccanus
(NE NSW)
Contact calls (in-flight) © MD
rainlor_20140424_2.mp3 moluccanus
(NW NSW)
Q&A (in flight) © MD
rainlor_20230401.mp3 moluccanus
(NW NSW)
Alarm/departure (pair) © MD
rainlor_20230521.mp3 moluccanus
(NW NSW)
Annoyed calls © MD
rainlor_art_20131112.m4a moluccanus
(NW NSW)
Feeding calls © ART
rainlor_art_20131115.m4a moluccanus
(SE QLD)
Begging calls (juvenile) © ART
rainlor_20151030.mp3 moluccanus
(Sydney, NSW)
Begging calls (juvenile) © MD
rainlor_20150811.m4a moluccanus
(Sydney, NSW)
Begging calls (immature) © MD
rainlor_20150327.m4a moluccanus
(NE NSW)
Settling in for the night © MD
rainlor_20140423_5.mp3 moluccanus
(NW NSW)
Various © MD
Click here for more recordings

We have also been able to record Rainbow Lorikeet wingbeats.

rainlor_20230521_2.mp3 moluccanus
(NW NSW)
Diving out of tree © MD

More Rainbow Lorikeet sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.