Rainbow Lorikeet pays a visit

In line with my recent bird posts, this one is about the Rainbow Lorikeet.  We first saw them here our first summer, when the fig tree was in fruit (2010) but haven’t seen them since.  So I was delighted when last week I looked out my dining room window and there’s one in the liquidamber tree and it drops to the feeder and then the birdbath. As you can see, they are quite colourful all over, even on their belly.

I was surprised as they are fruit eaters and the feeder has parrot seed in it and not fruit.  However, in reading up on them it seems they also eat seeds, as well as nectar and flowers.  I was delighted to see our visitor.

The Rainbow Lorikeet is unmistakable with its bright red beak and colourful plumage. Both sexes look alike, with a blue (mauve) head and belly, green wings, tail and back, and an orange/yellow breast. They are often seen in loud and fast-moving flocks, or in communal roosts at dusk.