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12

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

(Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus)
Alternate name(s): "Green Lorikeet", "Green and Gold Lorikeet", "Green Keet*"
Size: 22-24 cm
Weight: 70-100 g
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Scaly-breasted Lorikeet at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

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ADULT

Sex unknown

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

Near-frontal view of a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet on a coastal banksia
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]

The Scaly-breasted Lorikeet looked a bit possessive about this particular banksia flower
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]

Here a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet seen in the typical head-down feeding position
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]

Clear view of the underside of a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]

Close-up lateral view of two Scaly-breasted Lorikeets (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2014]

Lateral view of a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet in a shrub (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Dorsal view of a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
[Mt. Archer NP, QLD, July 2009]

Small flock of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets in flight
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]

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

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet feeding a juvenile (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Atherton Tablelands, QLD, October 2022]

Hybrid with Musk Lorikeet

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In June 2011 a hybrid lorikeet was reported at Chain Valley Bay South, a bay of Lake Macquarie on the NSW Central Coast. We subsequently spotted a second hybrid, most likely between a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet and a Musk Lorikeet.

Hybrid lorikeet feeding; one can see clearly the orange scaling typical of a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet and the red forehead of a Musk Lorikeet
[Chain Valley Bay South, NSW, June 2011]

Different perspective
[Chain Valley Bay South, NSW, June 2011]

Possible hybrid with Rainbow 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: July - Nov Eggs: 1 - 3 Incubation period: 23 - 25 days Fledging age: ca. 42 days

The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. The period listed in the table above applies to birds on the eastern seaboard of Australia. In the tropical North Scaly-breasted Lorikeets breed mainly in the timeframe May-February. Scaly-breasted Lorikeets can have 2 broods per season.

Nest building: ? Incubation: Female Dependent care: Female & male

Usually in the selection of the nest hollow the male "suggests" a location and the female, who will actually sit on the nest, has the final say.

Nest

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

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

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet at the opening to its nest hollow, with an expectant near-fledging age nestling waiting to be fed (photo courtesy M. Eaton)
[Lake Broadwater, near Dalby, QLD, January 2018]

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet feeding its near-fledging age nestling (photo courtesy M. Eaton)
[Lake Broadwater, near Dalby, QLD, January 2018]

Pair of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets at the entrance to their nest hollow (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, September 2017]

Eggs

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

Size: 26 x 20 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: Flock

Scaly-breasted Lorikeets are gregarious, often noisy birds.

Scaly-breasted Lorikeets are known to like hanging head-down, not only when feeding (as shown above).

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet checking out its surroundings, hanging from a branch...
[Mt. Archer NP, QLD, July 2009]

...now check the other side; the bird hung there like this for minutes on end
[Mt. Archer NP, QLD, July 2009]

Food, Diet

Scaly-breasted Lorikeets feed on fruit, nectar and seeds.

Close-up view of a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet feeding on the nectar of a banksia flower
[Manning Point, NSW, July 2013]

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet feeding on the nectar of a Callistemon shrub (photo courtesy M. Eaton)
[Lake Broadwater, near Dalby, QLD, January 2018]

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet having a drink of water from an ornamental pond
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2020]

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.

scbrlor_20150818.m4a (NE NSW) Contact calls? (in-flight) © MD
scbrlor_20150205_2.mp3 (NW NSW) Pair Q&As (feeding) © MD
scbrlor_20150205_3.mp3 (NW NSW) Pair Q&As (feeding) © MD
scbrlor_20140525.mp3 (NE NSW) Going to roost (large flock) © MD
scbrlor_20140526.mp3 (NE NSW) Pre-dawn chatter © MD

More Scaly-breasted 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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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.