Rosenberg's Lorikeet

scientific name

Trichoglossus haematodus rosenberaii

size

Length. 11 in
Wing: 5.3- 5.9in
Tail: 3.6 - 4.6 in
Beak: 0.75-0.9 in

characteristics

Head: blue
Breast: reddish-orange with heavy blue barring
Belly: dark blue
Neck: hind-collar broad yellowish green with a fine red line where it meets the crown
Back and Wings: green
Underwing: has orange band
Beak: orange-red
Eye: iris orange-red
Legs: gray

Behaviour: Form small noisy groups that feed acrobatically in the canopy • Frequently in mixed flocks with other parrots • Form communal roost at night with hundreds of birds • Vocalization: sharp rolling screech at regular intervals in flight, shrill chattering while feeding, soft twittering at rest, loud clear musical call.

reproduction/life span

Nest in isolated pairs in high, unlined tree hollow • Courtship display includes wing fluttering to reveal under wing pattern, swing upside-down, head-bobbing, tail-fanning and bill-fencing • 2-3 eggs laid • incubation 25 days • fledging 7-8 weeks • Breeding recorded in most months.

diet

Wild: Mainly nectar and pollen but also fruit such as figs, citrus, papaya and mangos opened by fruit bats, moth pupae and insects.
Zoo: 30% nectar, 30% fruit & vegetables (kale, grapes, apples, cantaloupe etc…), 30% bird of paradise pellets, 10% plants flowers and other novelty items.

habitat/range

Habitat: Most common in lowlands although found up to 2640 ft. • Found in wide variety of habitats including settlements to forest, coconut plantations, savanna, and mangroves
Range: Biak Island, off west New Guinea, the largest of the Schouten Islands.

status

CITES App. II

other

Previously referred to as rainbow lorikeets – actually a distinct sub-species • Important pollinator for coconut species.

oregon zoo exhibit

Lorikeet Landing