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Scaly-breasted LorikeetAlternate name(s): "Green Lorikeet", "Green and Gold Lorikeet", "Green Keet*" Size: 22-24 cm Weight: 70-100 g |
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Photos |
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a
look here .
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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]
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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
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a
look here .
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]
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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.
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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]
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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 |
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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]
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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]
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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
.