Australia
Rainbow Lorikeet
Meet the rainbow lorikeet! This small, noisy parrot is covered in brilliant blue, green, orange, and yellow feathers, and it loves to feast on flowers.
Why is it special?
Its feathers blaze with almost every color of the rainbow, making it one of the most dazzling parrots in the world.
It has a loud, cheerful screech and often travels in noisy, chattering flocks.
How does it live?
Unlike most parrots, rainbow lorikeets mainly eat nectar and pollen from flowers, using a special brush-tipped tongue to lap it up.
They also snack on fruit and pollen, flying from tree to tree across forests, parks, and even backyard gardens in eastern Australia.
Amazing facts
A rainbow lorikeet's tongue has a tiny brush-like tip made for slurping up nectar, much like a hummingbird's tongue.
Flocks can gather by the hundreds at flowering trees, filling the sky with color and noise at dusk and dawn.
Quick facts
- A rainbow lorikeet's tongue has a tiny brush-like tip made for slurping up nectar, much like a hummingbird's tongue.
- Flocks can gather by the hundreds at flowering trees, filling the sky with color and noise at dusk and dawn.
- They can be found in backyards, parks, and gardens across eastern and northern Australia.
- A mated pair usually stays together for life and often preens each other's feathers.