Rainbow Lorikeet
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Conservation status

Least Concern [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Subfamily: Loriinae
Genus: Trichoglossus
Species: T. haematodus


Binomial name
Trichoglossus haematodus
(Linnaeus, 1771)
The Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) is a parrot common to the eastern seaboard of Australia, ranging from Queensland to South Australia. It is also found around northwest Tasmania. Its habitat is rainforest, coastal bush and woodland areas.

As an introduced species the Rainbow Lorikeet can be found around Perth, Western Australia [2], and Auckland, New Zealand [3].

Diet
Rainbow lorikeets feed mainly on pollen and nectar, and possess a tongue adapted especially for their particular diet. However, they are frequent visitors at bird feeders that supply lorikeet-friendly treats, such as store-bought nectar, sunflower seeds, and fruits such as apples, grapes and pears.


Reproduction
Breeding usually occurs during spring (September to December), and mated pairs nest in eucalypt tree hollows.


Physical Appearance
Rainbow lorikeets grow to 25-30 cm (9.8-11.8 in) in size, with a wingspan of about 17 cm (6.7 in). Their eponymous markings are particularly striking: a dark blue head and stomach, a bright green back, tail and vent, and a red breast and beak.


Rainbow Lorikeets and Humans
As with any parrot, ownership of lorikeets must not be taken lightly. Captive lorikeets have a long lifespan, often in excess of 20 years. Their diet makes them particularly messy; they are well-known in aviculture for their messy, liquid droppings and energetic nature. Captive-bred rainbow lorikeets are legal to own in Australia.

In many places wild lorikeets are so used to human campers and visitors that they can be hand-fed. The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland is noted for its numerous lorikeets, which number in the thousands. Around 4pm each day the birds gather in a huge, noisy flock in the park's main area. Here visitors are encouraged to feed them a specially-prepared nectar, and the birds will happily settle on arms and heads to consume it. Rainbow lorikeets can also be hand-fed by visitors at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Queensland, and in many zoos and animal parks outside Australia.


Pest status in some areas

Wild Rainbow Lorikeets at Perry Lakes, W.A.The Rainbow lorikeet was accidentally released into the southwest of the state of Western Australia from the University of Western Australia in the 1960s, they have since been classified as a pest.[2]

Rainbow Lorikeets can also be found in New Zealand, particularly around the Auckland area. New Zealand's Department of Conservation has declared them a pest and is using similar methods to control and eradicate them.[3]

Many fruit orchard owners consider them a pest, as they often fly in groups and strip trees containing fresh fruit.


Subspecies

Rainbow Lorikeets at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaThere are many subspecies of rainbow lorikeets:

Blue-Faced Lorikeet (T. h. intermedius)
Brook's Lorikeet (T. h. brooki)
Dark-Throated Lorikeet (T. h. nigrogularis)
Djampea Lorikeet (T. h. djampeanus)
Edward's Lorikeet (T. h. capistratus)
Forsten's Lorikeet (T. h. forsteni)
Green-naped Lorikeet (T. h. haematodus)
Massena's Lorikeet, Coconut Lorikeet (T. h. massena)
Mitchell's Lorikeet (T. h. mitchellii)
Ninigo Lorikeet (T. h. nesophilus)
Olive-Green Lorikeet (T. h. flavicans)
Red-Collared Lorikeet (T. h. rubritorquis)
Rosenberg's Lorikeet (T. h. rosenbergii)
Southern Green-Naped Lorikeet (T. h. micropteryx)
Stresemann's (T. h. stresemanni)
Sumba Lorikeet (T. h. fortis)
Swainson's Lorikeet (T. h. moluccanus)
Weber's Lorikeet (T. h. weberi)
Wetar Lorikeet (T. h. flavotectus)
Pale Head Lorikeet (T. h. caeruleiceps)
Deplanche's Lorikeet (T. h. deplanchii)

References
^ BirdLife International (2005). Trichoglossus haematodus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
^ a b Department of Agriculture WA declared pests
^ a b Rainbow Lorikeet pest

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Lorikeet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Subfamily: Loriinae
Selby, 1836
Genera
Chalcopsitta
Eos
Pseudeos
Trichoglossus
Lorius
Phigys
Vini (genus)
Glossopsitta
Charmosyna
Oreopsittacus
Neopsittacus

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
LoriidaeLorikeets and lories are small, brightly coloured, highly arboreal parrots. They are usually classified as Loriinae, the most clearly distinct of the several rather uncertain subfamilies within the Psittacidae. Some authorities regard the differences between the Loriinae and the other parrots as sufficient to justify promoting the group to full family status, in which case, following the biological naming conventions, they become the Loriidae, and are placed alongside the remaining true parrots (Psittacidae) and the cockatoos (Cacatuidae) within the biological order Psittaciformes. The Ultramarine Lorikeet is endangered. It is now one of the 50 rarest birds in the world. Tahitian Lory is classifield vulnerable.

Food
Lorikeets eat nectar from about 5,000 flowers. To collect the nectar they use specialised tongues. On the tip of their tongues they have many protrusions; they have a tuft of papillae (extremely fine hairs). They expand like a bunch of tentacles to collect nectar and pollen.


Flight
Lorikeets have tapered wings and pointed tails that allow them to fly quickly and with agility.


Feet & Legs
They have strong feet and legs so they can do many acrobatics, such as hanging upside down in order to access out-of-reach flowers.


Species
Black Lory, Chalcopsitta atra
Duyvenbode's Lory, Chalcopsitta duivenbodei
Yellow-streaked Lory, Chalcopsitta sintillata
Cardinal Lory, Chalcopsitta cardinalis
Black-winged Lory, Eos cyanogenia
Violet-necked Lory, Eos squamata
Blue-streaked Lory, Eos reticulata
Red and Blue Lory, Eos histrio
Red Lory, Eos bornea
Blue-eared Lory, Eos semilarvata
Dusky Lory, Pseudeos fuscata
Ornate Lory, Trichoglossus ornatus
Ponape Lory, Trichoglossus rubiginosus
Johnstone's Lorikeet, Trichoglossus johnstoniae
Yellow and Green Lorikeet, Trichoglossus flavoviridis
Rainbow Lorikeet, Trichoglossus haematodus
Red-collared Lorikeet, Trichoglossus haematodus rubritorquis
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Perfect Lorikeet, Trichoglossus euteles
Varied Lorikeet, Trichoglossus versicolor
Iris Lorikeet, Trichoglossus iris
Goldie's Lorikeet, Trichoglossus goldiei
Purple-bellied Lory, Lorius hypoinochrous
Black-capped Lory, Lorius lory
White-naped Lory, Lorius albidinuchus
Stresemann's Lory, Lorius amabilis
Yellow-bibbed Lory, Lorius chlorocercus
Purple-naped Lory, Lorius domicellus
Blue-thighed Lory, Lorius tibialis
Chattering Lory, Lorius garrulus
Collared Lory, Phigys solitarius
Blue-crowned Lory, Vini australis
Kuhl's Lory, Vini kuhlii
Stephen's Lory, Vini stepheni
Tahitian Lory, Vini peruviana
Ultramarine Lory, Vini ultramarina
Musk Lorikeet, Glossopsitta concinna
Little Lorikeet, Glossopsitta pusilla
Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Glossopsitta porphyrocephala
Palm Lorikeet, Charmosyna palmarum
Red-chinned Lorikeet, Charmosyna rubrigularis
Meek's Lorikeet, Charmosyna meeki
Blue-fronted Lorikeet, Charmosyna toxopei
Striated Lorikeet, Charmosyna multistriata
Wilhelmina's Lorikeet, Charmosyna wilhelminae
Red-spotted Lorikeet, Charmosyna rubronotata
Red-flanked Lorikeet, Charmosyna placentis
New Caledonian Lorikeet, Charmosyna diadema
Red-throated Lorikeet, Charmosyna amabilis
Duchess Lorikeet, Charmosyna margarethae
Fairy Lorikeet, Charmosyna pulchella
Josephine's Lory, Charmosyna josefinae
Papuan Lory, Charmosyna papou
Whiskered Lorikeet, Oreopsittacus arfaki
Musschenbroek's Lorikeet, Neopsittacus musschenbroekii
Emerald Lorikeet, Neopsittacus pullicauda

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
License and Copyright Statement - currently,
"All text is available under the terms of the
GNU Free Documentation License.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_FDL

Shown below: Scaly Breasted Lorikeet and Black Winged Lorikeet