Wild kids

Common name: Rainbow Lorikeet
Scientific name: Trichoglossus haematodus
Photo: R. Oldham/Nature Focus, Australian Museum

Birds

Rainbow Lorikeet

Rainbow Lorikeets are colourful birds that live in forests and woodlands that have flowering trees in northern, eastern and south-eastern coastal areas of Australia. They have short, curved beaks and feet with two toes facing forwards and two toes facing backwards. They call with shrill screeches.

This is a Rainbow Lorikeet flying.

Rainbow Lorikeets fly over trees searching for nectar and pollen from the blossoms of native plants, fruit and insects in the early morning and late afternoon. They use their sharp, curved beak to tear at fruit and flowers and their tongue like a paintbrush to mop up nectar from flowers.

Rainbow Lorikeets make nests from a bed of sawdust in hollow trees or tree branches that are near water. The female lays two white, round eggs that she sits on for 25 to 26 days. When the eggs hatch the chicks are without feathers. Both parents help feed the chicks. The chicks have feathers and are ready to fly and leave the nest in eight weeks.