All parrots eat nuts and seeds, by using their beaks to open their shells, but not Lorikeets.The Lorikeets have a tongue that is “Fuzzy”.
The Lorikeet is a parrot that is a Meliphagidae (honey-eater), they naturally feed on pollen, sap and nectar. As well as soft fruits and berries. They have a special “Fuzzy” tongue with a brush tip, which allows them to get the nectar and pollen from flowers. If they were to eat too many insects and seeds, their brush-tipped tongue would get damaged and they would not be able to feed on nectar anymore.
The brush on the tongue are actually called papilla (or little hairs), they help to dig out the pollen from the native flowers. Lorikeets get some of the pollen stuck on their feathers on their head and throat, which gets transported to the next flower. Therefore Lorikeets help plants to get pollinated.
Similarly to other parrot species, Lorikeets nest in tree hollows, where the female covers the eggs until they hatch and the male helps to feed the young.
The different types of feeding are: (please press on the link to go to the different feeding types).
Scientific Name: Trichoglossus moluccanus
Lifespan: up to 30 years
Weight: 130-140 g
Length: 25-30 cm
Clutch Size: 1-3
Appearance:
Bright coloured bird, with an orange-red beak (black when a nestling and turning orange as it ages). It has orange and yellow on its chest; blue on its head and the lower front of its body, green on the back and the wings, it is red under the wings and has a band of lime green on the neck. The adult also has orange eyes.
Call:
Loud screeches and chattering noises. .
Distribution:
Found in Rainforest and woodlands, as well as treed habitats, such as gardens and parks.
Diet:
Pollen and Nectar from native trees.
Scientific Name: Parvipsitta porphyrocephala
Lifespan: 10 years
Weight: 44 g
Length: 15 cm
Clutch Size: 2-4
Appearance:
They have bright green feathers that become bronze around their nape. Their belly is pale blue. The crown (top of their head) is purple. The ears and the forehead are orange in colour.
Call:
A high-pitched, shrill but rather buzzy “tzip!” or “zeep!”.
Distribution:
They prefer Eucalypt forests, shrubland and woodland, but they are also seen in parks and gardens.
Diet:
The Purple Crowned lorikeet feed on pollen, nectar, blossoms and fruits. And are an important part of pollination of plants.
Scientific Name: Glossopsitta concinna
Lifespan: up to 10 years
Weight: 71 g
Length: 22 cm
Clutch Size: 2
Appearance:
They are mostly green, with a patch of yellow on the side of the breast, and a bright red forehead with a band through the eye to the ear. THe crown is blue. .
Call:
a shrill rolling screech “krree” or “kirree”.
Distribution:
They are found in Tall, open dry forest and woodlands. Which are dominated by eucalypts.
Diet:
The Musk lorikeet feed on pollen, nectar, blossoms and fruits.