The multicolor parrot Loriket is one of the brightest and noisy birds of all species of parrots. Thanks to the variegated and colorful colors of the feathers, the feathers were called “bird clowns”. They are quite difficult to confuse with other species. These birds are very mobile, have simple requirements for feeding and breeding, and can also quickly adapt to the use of new resources for living.
Description of Lorikeet parrots
Multicolor parrots are thin, long-tailed, brightly colored birds of medium size, the length of which, including the tail, varies from 25 to 30 centimeters, and weight from 75 to 157 grams. The wingspan is about 45 centimeters.
Parrots reach puberty at the age of eighteen to twenty-four months. Young individuals usually have a paler and more dull plumage than adults, with a much more dull brownish-orange dome. The chicks have a black beak, and the adult parrot Loriket has a bright red beak with a yellow tip. The head is purple-blue with a greenish-yellow collar, the upper part, wings and tail are dark green. The chest is orange-yellow in color, and the abdomen is purple-blue with yellow and green between the legs and tail. The underwings are orange in color, but a thick yellow stripe passes through the middle of the brown main flight feathers. Eyes are bright red with a narrow dark gray exposed ring. Legs of gray color, adapted for holding on trees, with two toes in front and two at the back. The tail of a parrot, as a rule, has a long and sharp shape.
There are few signs to visually distinguish the gender of the bird, the female and the male are almost identical, however, for an avid observer of their color and behavior, their dimorphism is obvious. Multicolor Lorikeets have a fast, direct flight with frisky flapping of wings. Soaring, they flash dark green and bright red flowers.
Places to meet
Lorikeet parrots can be found in various tree habitats; they visit tropical and mangrove forests, coastal plantations, wet and eucalyptus forests, woodlands and forest edges, as well as landscaped city gardens and parks. Some Lorikeet species have become so common in agricultural and suburban areas that they are considered pests. The average life expectancy of birds in the wild is about twelve years, and in zoos they can live about twenty.
The natural habitat of the multi-colored Lorikeets includes the south and east of Indonesia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, the island of Goali, coastal areas throughout northern and eastern Australia, where people get used to the neighborhood and live in close proximity to housing. In the northern part of Australia, parrots live year-round, but in the south of the country, birds roam in search of food, when the vegetation changes depending on the season.
Breeding
Having reached puberty, Lorikeets create a pair, as a rule, they are monogamous and maintain long-term pair relationships for a long period, if not for life. The breeding season can vary widely between regions, depending on climate and food availability, but in Australia it usually occurs from August to January of the following year. As soon as couples are formed, Lorikeet parrots find a place to nest. They usually lay eggs in the hollow branches of eucalyptus trees, on chewed, decayed, and rotten wood. Couples sometimes nest on the same tree with another pair of multicolor parrots Loriket or other types of birds.
Females typically lay one to two whitish eggs about 28 by 23 millimeters in size. Both parents prepare nests, feed and raise the chicks, but the incubation is carried out only by the female and takes from 22 to 25 days. After about 7-8 weeks, the cubs leave the nest and after another 15-20 days after the plumage become completely independent. The multi-colored Lorikeet parrots are very prolific, they are able to grow up to three broods per season.
Behavior and character
Lorikeets, as a rule, are hyperactive, sociable and loud both in captivity and in the wild. The birds are very noisy, during the flight the parrots continuously emit a sharp, piercing screech and regularly utter soft twittering at rest.
Their behavior is sometimes quite comical, especially during the breeding season, when the male tries to impress the female with the help of many mating dances. He follows the female, tilts his neck and shakes his head, whistling at the same time, and his pupils are constantly expanding and contracting during this number.
Parrots are strong pilots, they can travel up to 30 kilometers, flying from a feeding place to an overnight place. In their habitats of Lorikeet multicolor parrots, the photo can usually be seen in fast flying pairs or flocks inhabiting and feeding in the treetops. Lorikeets rarely descend to the ground, unless they want to drink or treat themselves with additional food from a person.
Food
In their natural habitats, Lorikeet parrots mainly feed on nectar and pollen from local fruits and flowers. Nectar gives them energy, and pollen provides protein for healthy feathers. Birds play a major beneficial role in the pollination of trees and plants. They can also eat small insects and larvae. Lorikeet parrots have a special tongue, the tip of which is covered with a hairy brush, which is used to collect liquid nectar from the depth of the flowers.
In captivity, a feathered menu may consist of sweet fruits and berries, dried bread made from wheat flour, possibly honey, sweetened milk, and vegetable and fruit juices. Improper food - nuts, hard grains and fruits can damage their tongue and weak beak.
Lorikeet Parrot: Owner Reviews
Despite the fact that Lorikeets are playful, affectionate and curious birds, they are not considered good pets by breeders. This is because parrots can hardly be called clean, their caustic liquid droppings pollute not only the cage, but also the space around them in a radius of a meter. Therefore, for multi-color Lorikeets, you have to clean almost every day.
Birds are very sociable, loud and prone to pranks. Games are loved by both chicks and adults. All kinds of toys for birds are destroyed in the blink of an eye, and only then attention is switched to household items, so you should be on the alert. However, this does not mean that Lorikeet is an aggressive bird, on the contrary, parrots are good-natured and affable, especially to their master.