Red-Collared Lorikeet or Rainbow Lorikeet?

Here's how to tell the difference

Red-Collared Lorikeet

Trichoglossus rubritorquis

How to recognise a red-collared lorikeet?

General appearance

The Red-collared Lorikeet is a medium-sized, brightly coloured parrot with a distinctive red collar, orange beak, and blue head. It boasts beautifully contrasting green wings, tail, and chest, and a vivid, yellow-green underbelly. Adult Lorikeets are roughly 26 cm long with a wingspan of 17 cm.

Male vs female

Males and females are similar in appearance, making them difficult to distinguish by coloration. However, males tend to be slightly larger and heavier than females. The most reliable way to identify gender is by examining the size and shape of the beak: males have a larger, more curved upper beak.

Juvenile

Juvenile Red-collared Lorikeets are predominantly green, with an incomplete or absent red collar, less blue on their head, a yellow-orange beak, and duller overall plumage. As they mature, their colors become more vibrant and their features more defined. The transition from juvenile to adult plumage usually happens within the first year.

Size

9.8 - 10.2 in/4.4 - 4.6 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The red-collared lorikeet primarily occupies the coastal regions of northern Australia, preferring tropical climates and environments rich in eucalyptus and paperbark trees.

Additional range

This lorikeet may nest in unexpected environments like suburban parks and gardens, showing adaptability to human-modified habitats.

Range Map

What do red-collared lorikeets like to eat?

Natural diet

The red-collared lorikeet primarily feeds on nectar and pollen from native flowering plants, especially eucalyptus, melaleuca, and grevillea species. They use their specialized brush-tipped tongues to collect these food sources efficiently. In addition to nectar and pollen, they consume various fruits, seeds, and sometimes insects and their larvae.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, red-collared lorikeets often consume commercial nectar mixes designed for nectar-eating birds. These mixes mimic the nutritional content of natural nectar. They may also eat fresh fruits such as apples, grapes, and pears offered at feeders. It's important to avoid feeding them processed foods or seeds, as these are not suitable for their digestive systems.

What does a red-collared lorikeet sound like?

The red-collared lorikeet possesses a high-pitched, playful call generally characterized as rollicking and swift chatter. Their typical vocalization is a sharp, short "chwit" or "chur-ee". They often create a raucous cacophony when in flocks. Even though they lack a traditional 'song', their strikingly large vocal range featuring trills, whistles, and mellow tones make their communication distinctive. The noises are often more pronounced during flight or amidst social interaction.

Call

Audio by James Lambert

/ CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Call

Audio by James Lambert

/ CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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Rainbow Lorikeet

Trichoglossus moluccanus

How to recognise a rainbow lorikeet?

General appearance

The rainbow lorikeet is a medium-sized parrot characterized by its vibrant multicolored plumage. They have striking blue faces, red-orange beaks, green wings, tail and back, with yellow-orange chest patterns. The bird’s belly is deep blue, and the thighs and rump are colored in tones of red. Male and female birds are similar in size, averaging a length of 15 inches from beak to tail-tip.

Male vs female

Visually, male and female rainbow lorikeets are indistinguishable as both sexes exhibit the same brilliant coloration. However, with a careful inspection, slight differences can be noticed. Males usually have a thicker and broader beak while females have a more slender beak. Telling them apart reliably requires DNA or surgical sexing.

Juvenile

Juvenile rainbow lorikeets have a similar color palette to adults but in a less vibrant tone. Their beaks are darker, often black or dark grey before turning into vibrant red-orange as they mature. The eye color also evolves from a dark brown in juveniles to a striking red-orange in adults.

Size

9.8 - 11.8 in/2.5 - 6.0 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The rainbow lorikeet naturally inhabits the Australasian region, notably Australia’s east coast, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and New Zealand.

Additional range

Despite preferring warm climates such as rainforests, coastal bushlands, and woodland areas, they have adapted to urban environments like city parks and gardens.

Range Map

What do rainbow lorikeets like to eat?

Natural diet

Rainbow lorikeets primarily feed on nectar and pollen from various blossoms. They have a specialized tongue adapted to extract this food source efficiently. In addition, they consume fruits, seeds, and occasionally insects to diversify their diet. Their food sources include eucalyptus blossoms, banksias, and grevilleas.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, rainbow lorikeets are commonly attracted to offerings of specialized nectar mixes designed for lorikeets. They may also consume fruit pieces such as apples, pears, and grapes. Some feeders provide soaked bread, though it's not ideal for their health. It is important to provide food sources that mimic their natural diet to maintain their health.

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Red-Collared Lorikeet

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Rainbow Lorikeet

Red-Collared Lorikeet

Trichoglossus rubritorquis

General appearance

Male vs female

Juvenile

Size

9.8 - 10.2 in/4.4 - 4.6 oz

There's more to learn about Red-Collared Lorikeet

View full details

Rainbow Lorikeet

Trichoglossus moluccanus

General appearance

Male vs female

Juvenile

Size

9.8 - 11.8 in/2.5 - 6.0 oz

There's more to learn about Rainbow Lorikeet

View full details

How to tell the Red-Collared Lorikeet from the Rainbow Lorikeet

Visual differences

The Red-Collared Lorikeet and Rainbow Lorikeet can be distinguished visually by their plumage and size. Red-Collared Lorikeets (approx. 10-10.2 inches) have a distinctive red collar, blue head, and vivid yellow-green underbelly, while Rainbow Lorikeets (approx. 10-12 inches) display a multicolored plumage with deep blue bellies and red thighs. Both have orange beaks but Rainbow Lorikeets’ chest is yellow-orange. Subtle differences exist in beak shape—males of both species often have a broader beak than females. Juveniles of both species have less vibrant plumage compared to adults.

Key differences and behavior

The Red-Collared and Rainbow Lorikeets both exhibit social behaviors, but they distinguish themselves through unique interactions. Red-Collared Lorikeets in Darwin, Australia, display a peculiar "drunk" behavior during the dry season, likely due to fermented fruit consumption. Rainbow Lorikeets, known for their territorial tendencies, aggressively chase both small and large birds. Both species inhabit coastal regions and adapt well to urban environments, favoring eucalyptus trees for nesting. They perform elaborate courtship displays involving vocalizations and mutual preening. Their diets are similar, primarily consisting of nectar and pollen, but vary slightly with Rainbow Lorikeets occasionally consuming seeds and small insects. Red-Collared Lorikeets in North Australia are known for foraging on specific native plants like melaleuca. Both species engage in shared parenting, but Rainbow Lorikeets may exhibit more territorial aggression, making them distinctive when observed in the field.

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