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Rainbow lorikeet(Trichoglossus haematodus)
Phylum —chordata
Class — aves
Order — psittaciformes
Family — psittaculidae
Genus – trichoglossus
Appearance
The rainbow lorikeet is a small, brightly colored parrot 26-31cm in length and weighing 105-130g. Male, female and immature birds all look similar, with young birds slightly duller in color. They have a bright yellow-orange/red breast, a mostly violet-blue throat and a yellow-green collar.
Habitat
Rainbow lorikeetis found in eastern Indonesia, on Buru, Seram, Misool, Waigeo, Numfoor, Yapen and the Aru Islands, in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea on New Guinea, in the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
Behavior
Rainbow lorikeets roost in large, noisy groups which leave the roost at dawn. Large foraging flocks of 10-50 birds can travel more than 50km to feeding sites. Lorikeets fly high and rarely go to ground, spending most of their time in the outer foliage of tall trees.
Diet
Rainbow lorikeets feed mainly on fruit, pollen and nectar, and possess a tongue adapted especially for their particular diet. The end of the tongue is equipped with a papillate appendage adapted to gathering pollen and nectar from flowers.
Reproduction
Rainbow lorikeets are monogamous birds, choosing only one partner for their whole life. These birds may breed throughout most of year, depending on the region. Usually they breed from July to December. They usually raise one brood a year, sometimes two.
Nests are usually located in holes in decaying wood, such as hollows of eucalyptus trees, at a height of 25 meters (82 ft) above the ground. Females lay two matte white, round eggs and incubate them for 23–25 days. Parents feed the chicks for 7–8 weeks, after which they leave the nest and after another 2–3 weeks they become completely independent.
In captivity
In captivity rainbow lorikeetcan live for up to 30 years.
Overall, rainbow lorikeets are excellent pets for those who have plenty of free time to spend with them. Rainbow lorikeets love to play and need to be provided with plenty of toys to keep their minds and beaks busy.
These birds need a large flight cage or aviary. The minimum size for a cage should 4 feet long by 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall. The cage should be sturdy, metal construction—steer clear of wooden cages, which can be torn apart by their beaks.
While cleaning up after any pet bird can be quite a mess, lorikeets can get messy due to their liquid-based diets. When choosing a location for a lorikeet's cage, it's essential to place the cage in an area where there is no carpet and where the floors and walls can be easily wiped clean. Many people line their walls with plastic sheeting to protect their walls due to the bird droppings. This smart species can be potty trained to control where the bird does its toileting.
Since a lorikeet's diet consists mainly of sugary nectars that are prone to bacterial growth, clean their food cups within two hours of feeding to prevent bacterial infections.
In captivity, lorikeet owners feed their pets either commercially available or homemade nectar mixes, which must be prepared fresh two to three times daily. Start by offering 1/4 cup per feeding — give more if they finish quickly and are looking for more. These birds are usually eating for at least three hours throughout the day. Supplement a pet lorikeet's diet with treats like oats, fresh fruit, edible organic flowers, and green vegetables twice daily. Avoid citrus fruits; they may upset the bird's digestion. Discard any uneaten food after three to four hours. Provide fresh water every day. Do not feed this bird a seed or pellet mix. These hard foods can damage this bird's delicate brush-like tongue. Also, avoid foods like avocado, chocolate, coffee, rhubarb, and alcohol; they are toxic to all birds.
Rainbow lorikeets are very active birds, so they require plenty of exercise to maintain optimal health. This bird needs a minimum of 3 to 4 daily hours of supervised, out-of-cage playtime for good physical and emotional health. Rainbow lorikeets love to play and need to be provided with plenty of toys to keep their minds and beaks busy. They are avid chewers, stock up on destructible toys made of safe woods so that they can exercise their beaks.
