Animal-World > Birds > Lories and Lorikeets > Green-naped Rainbow Lorikeet

Green-naped Rainbow Lorikeet

Family: PsittacidaeRainbow Lorikeet"Zazu"Trichoglossus haematodusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough
Latest Reader Comment - See More
I was wondering if you can tell me how to handle a rainbow lorikeet. (EDITOR'S NOTE: There are care sheets for a variety of birds on Animal-World. A good one with... (more)  jacob lee

  "Zazu" is a very nice Green-naped Rainbow Lorikeet that is about 10-12 weeks old.

Zazu was handfed and likes very much to be handled. Zazu started to talk before she left the store saying things like 'hello' and 'pretty bird'. She is going to be a really good talker with a great personality. This bird loved to play with everyone and everything! She was a real acrobat and loved to swing upside down on her perches.

Geographic Distribution
Trichoglossus haematodus
See All Data at Google Maps
Data provided by GBIF.org
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Psittaciformes
  • Family: Psittacidae
  • Genus: Trichoglossus
  • Species: haematodus

Scientific name: Trichoglossus haematodus

Description:    The Green-naped Rainbow Lorikeet is one of the most colorful members of the parrot family. It is almost impossible to tell the difference between a lorikeet and a lory although some say the lorikeet has a longer tail than the lori. Also, the lorikeet has a pointed tail while the lori's tail is rounded. The lorikeets and the lorys have a "brushlike" tongue that is used for eating fruits, flowers, nectars, and pollens. There are at least 21 different kinds of Green-naped Lorikeets.

Care and feeding:    The lorikeet's main diet consists of nectar and fruit. They can eat some greens and some seed. Special diets which can be purchased at most pet stores have been formulated to feed the bird in either a wet form as a nectar or in a dry form as a powder. Make sure you have water near the powder, if that is what you are feeding, so the bird can take drinks while eating. Fresh fruit or unsweetened canned fruit should be fed regularly.

Distribution:    Northern and eastern parts of Australia, and also the islands north and east of Australia.

Size - Weight:    Reaches up to 10 inches in length including the tail.

Social Behaviors:
   In the wild they spend most of their time in flocks.

Physical characteristics:    Very colorful, from 6-11 inches including the tail. The sub-adults have a dark brown beak and brown irises. The beak turns red as they mature. Life span is 15 or more years, they mature at 1-2 years.

Housing:    A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. A cage guard is a good idea since their droppings are a sticky fluid which ends up outside the cage.

Breeding/Reproduction:    Lorikeets are easily bred. Although they are not easy to sex, once they are established, they nest freely.

Potential Problems: An easy bird to care for.

Availability: Readily available.

Activities:    Make sure you give them lots of toys, swings, and perches since they are very active and love to play.

Lastest Animal Stories on Green-naped Rainbow Lorikeet

jacob lee - 2008-05-17
I was wondering if you can tell me how to handle a rainbow lorikeet. (EDITOR'S NOTE: There are care sheets for a variety of birds on Animal-World. A good one with handling information for parrots of this size is "About Conures". See it here: http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/conures/ConuresProfile.htm)

    Reply
    Bridget - 2004-02-27
    We have a girl Rainbow Lorikeet that we got suddenly and knew nothing about pet birds at all!She is a sweetie that plays soccer on the floor with a cat ball with a bell (but no catnip) in it and loves to give kisses and take noisy,splashy baths in a pyrex brownie pan.She even said my name after 3 days with us!She is so funny when she plays she could get Frankenstein out of a bad mood.I love her so much and never knew what I was missing until she came our way.We still have to think of a girl name for her because we thought she was a he until the DNA results came in last week. Princess would be appropriate,LOL.

    Reply
    Ian Banks - 2004-07-06
    I have a 1 year old Green Naped Lorikeet called Ruby. I could not agree more with so many of the comments I have read here, they make the very best companions and Ruby is no exception. She mimics a great deal and takes great pleasure in mimicking the sound of the Microwave finishing; a great way to get me out of the front room and gain my attention. I have taken some great photos of her and placed them on my website. Take a look www.ianrbanks.co.uk.

    Reply
    Joan Quinn - 2009-07-17
    Yes, these little birds are gifts from God for us to cherish and take care of. Last month I was watering the plants out front when a beautiful little lovebird landed right on my head. I have been wanting some kind of bird (either finches or a canary for years) but my husband said our 4 dogs would go crazy and we have enough animals. It is a miracle to me that this has happened, as my 4 dogs are older now and pay no mind to the birds. I was laid off last year so I am home and able to spend time with my birds. Since the Lovebird landed on my head, I have gotten a singing canary and a beautiful tame cockatiel. I named the Lovebird "Penny" after the old song, "Pennies From Heaven". I truly believe that she was a gift from God. I never would have gotten any of the birds, if it hadn't been for Penny landing right on my head. My husband has been great and says I can have more than one bird because he sees how much joy they bring me. I absolutely love them! I wish I would have known how much love and joy they could have brought me (4 dogs ago!)
    Please do not be sad over the loss of your bird, but instead rejoice in the miracle of your relationship with him and those fond memories will stay with you forever. This is just one more testament that God does exist! He has provided to us what we have asked of him!
    Signed - One Grateful Bird Lover - Joan Quinn

    Reply
    Cynthia Oberlies - 2006-06-10
    My best friend is named Tangy who is a beautiful 14yr old green-naped Rainbow Lori who is affectionately loving, a vocally demanding talker, more adventurous then the man down under - The Crocodile Hunter, and as intelligent as Little Einstein. I have had Tangy since a hatchling and, as any proud mother, I have weened, potty-trained(yes she is potty trained), and raised my little girl to be the most outgoing social performer. She often takes trips with me and my husband to meet the local people in our neighborhood where she lightens the hearts of everyone. I am proud to be told how amazingly beautiful and loving she is! I love talking and introducing Tangy and sharing with everyone her infectious laughter and constant chatter of "Mommy-mommy, Come her, I love you, Give me kisses". When I was recently married, I worried about her ability to adjust to my husband. And true to her loving nature, she took my husband, Frank, into our little clutch. Now, Tangy and Frank spend time together with Tangy preening his eyelashes, giving him kisses, and hopping around him for attention. Even though Rainbow Loriies are not for everyone; they need alot of social interaction, their diet must be watched closely, but most of all, they need alot of love in order to raise a healthy-well adjusted bird like Tangy, I believe everyone should have the pleasure of owning a little Tangy of their own..

    Reply
    Karen Bretana - 2004-03-16
    I have a rainbow loriket. Her name is Skittles. We got her from Petco about 2 years ago. She is a very loving bird. She gives kisses, makes all kinds of sounds, and talks. She loves to talk to our other red lory named Gookie. They are in seperate cages. We bought them these plastic bird baths and they sleep in them. These birds amaze me. They are so intelligent and so much fun. When Gookie is getting to loud, Skittles will shout "SHUTUP". They will mimic you so you must watch what you say. They are a lot of work but well worth it.

    Reply

    Copyright © [Animal-World] 1998-2012. All rights reserved.