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12

Red-collared Lorikeet

(Trichoglossus rubritorquis)
Size: 26-31 cm
Weight: 100-140 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 Red-collared 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

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Red-collared Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Palmerston Golf Course, Palmerston, NT, July 2020]

Partly obscured frontal view of a Red-collared Lorikeet
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Near-frontal view of a Red-collared Lorikeet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pine Creek, NT, July 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of a Red-collared Lorikeet
[Pine Creek, NT, August 2014]

Red-collared Lorikeets high up in a tree; these were amongst a flock of birds whose calls were recorded on 18 August 2014
[Pine Creek, NT, August 2014]

Red-collared Lorikeets (photo courtesy of S. Kirkby)
[Near Kununurra, WA, June 2011]

In the process of trying to keep its balance, the upper of these two Red-collared Lorikeets is displaying its conspicuous underwing pattern (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Pickertaramoor, Melville Island, off Darwin, NT, December 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - May Eggs: 2 - 3 Incubation period: 25 days Fledging age: 49 - 63 days

Lorikeets are sociable creatures which often nest in loose colonies, also in conjunction with other species.

Nest

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

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

Close-up lateral view of a Red-collared Lorikeet on its nest hollow, looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP, NT, June 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a Red-collared Lorikeet on its nest hollow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP, NT, June 2023]

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

Red-collared Lorikeets are gregarious, often noisy birds.

Some Red-collared Lorikeet TLC; this type of behaviour is part of a bonding ritual (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, October 2017]

This looks more like some Red-collared Lorikeet "aggro" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mary River Wilderness Retreat, NT, July 2020]

Food, Diet

Red-collared Lorikeets feed primarily on fruit, nectar and seeds.

Red-collared Lorikeet taking nectar from Swamp Bloodwood (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2021]

Red-collared Lorikeet taking nectar and in the process pollenating the flowers (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Pine Creek, NT, January 2020]

Red-collared Lorikeet taking nectar and in the process pollenating the flowers - the bill is inserted into the flower wide-open like this, then the thick tongue is used to lick up nectar (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Pine Creek, NT, January 2020]

Red-collared Lorikeet taking nectar (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Red-collared Lorikeet taking nectar (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Red-collared Lorikeet taking seeds out of a casuarina seed cone that is just opening
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

This Red-collared Lorikeet appears to be taking lerps, the sugary secretions of psyllids (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Tree Point Conservation Area, Shoal Bay, NT, March 2019]

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.

redclor_20140818_2.m4a (Top End, NT) Contact call © MD
redclor_pb_20210213.m4a (Top End, NT) Contact calls (in flight) © PB
redclor_pb_20180914_2.m4a (Top End, NT) Contact call (Q&A) © PB
redclor_pb_20191023.m4a (Top End, NT) Contact calls (flock in flight) © PB
redclor_20140818_4.m4a (Top End, NT) Annoyed/warning call © MD
redclor_20140818_3.mp3 (Top End, NT) Annoyed © MD
redclor_pb_20180914.m4a (Top End, NT) Various (with begging young) © PB
redclor_pb_20190802_1.m4a (Top End, NT) Large flock settling in on roost © PB
redclor_pb_20230928.m4a (Top End, NT) Large flock settling in on roost © PB
redclor_pb_20230929.m4a (Top End, NT) Small flock departing from roost © PB
redclor_pb_20180914_3.m4a (Top End, NT) Various © PB
redclor_20140818.m4a (Top End, NT) Various © MD
redclor_20140818_5.m4a (Top End, NT) Various © MD

More Red-collared 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.

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