Rainbow Lorikeet Behavior

Colorful and inquisitive, rainbow lorikeets are favorites for many bird owners. They're sometimes more suited to a large aviary, however, as they can be quite noisy and are notorious escape artists. These brightly colored birds have more than a few quirks, such as sometimes sleeping on their backs. Males and females are sexually monomorphic, although females tend to be a bit smaller than males.

  1. Habitat

    • These colorful little parrots live high in the tree tops of wet rainforests, mangroves and eucalyptus trees along the eastern coast of Australia and areas including New Guinea, New Caledonia and Indonesia. Introduced populations exist in various parts of Australia and Asia. Rainbows follow the blooms of the eucalyptus up the Australian coast.

    Noisy Socialites

    • In the wild, these noisy little birds are found in flocks of varying sizes, sometimes with a few other species of parrot mixed in. These mixed flocks are easily simulated in aviculture by keeping a few different lorikeet species in the aviary. During feeding time, rainbows will let out almost constant chattering, with the whole flock joining in in one large chorus. These birds are even talkative during rest, letting out softer calls while roosting.

    Feeding

    • Forget the seeds; these feathered acrobats prefer to feast on nectar and pollen, although they'll sometimes supplement this diet with seeds, fruits and bugs in the wild. If you plan on keeping this colorful species, keep in mind that they're known for their watery droppings and may do best in an aviary. In captivity, specialized diets for lorikeets and the closely related lories are available at most pet retailers. Wet and dry substitutes for nectar and pollen, respectively, are both necessities and should be supplemented with regular offerings of fresh fruit.

    Courtship

    • Dating for rainbow lorikeets consists of the male performing a simple little dance and song. When approaching the female, he will stretch out as long as he can and bob his head slowly while whistling quietly to garner her affections. Other courtship rituals include fanning his tail, swinging upside-down and revealing the color patterns under his wings. After mating, both the male and the female will rest in the nesting cavity, although the mother bird is the one who incubates the eggs. Hybrids are quite possible in aviaries as they're present in the wild. Rainbows breed with certain other lorikeets and even lories.