Rainbow Lorikeet

The rainbow lorikeet has to be one of the most brilliantly colored birds in the animal kingdom.  The bird, considered medium-sized, is a long-lived playful and sweet-natured pet.  They are known to be sweet, affectionate birds with friendly personalities.  Easy to socialize, they value interaction with their owner.  Also known as a lory or rainbow bird, it grows up to 15 inches in length and can live up to 30 years.

Native to the Australian continent, the rainbow lorikeet has also been cited as far as Hong Kong in the wild.  It tends to live in the rainforests and the woods.  The bird can fly up to 40 miles a day and often fly in flocks.

The rainbow lorikeet is considered a very intelligent bird that can learn tricks including escape.  They tend not to get along with other species as they are territorial.  You should never leave your lorikeet alone with another species of bird since the situation can get quite violent. 

The bird is an excellent talker and they can learn a large vocabulary including phrases.  They do have a shrill voice and can get quite loud.  The rainbow lorikeet is not an ideal pet for somebody with neighbors in close proximity.

The rainbow lorikeet boasts of a deep blue plumage in their faces and belly and with green feathers on their heads, backs and wings.  On their breasts they have bright red feathers with yellow and orange highlights on their sides.  They carry red beaks with dark grey skin on their feet. 

You must submit the bird to a genetic test to determine whether they are a male or female.

The bird loves to play so they need an owner who is willing and has the time to spend with them.  They also need plenty of toys to keep them busy, interactive and chewable.  The bird also needs a very large cage for its size also known as a flight cage.  The cage should be no smaller than four feet long by two feet wide and 3 feet tall.  Do not get a wooden cage since they can destroy them with their strong beaks.

They tend to be quite wild with their bird droppings with owners even lining their walls with plastic to protect them.  The good news is that they can be trained to drop in a specific spot.  Their diet consists of sugary nectars that can develop bacteria, so it is smart to clean their food cups constantly.

Their diets are somewhat unique to other pet birds because they mainly consist of nectar mixes, either commercially available or homemade.  Their diet can also be supplemented with fresh fruit, edible flowers and green vegetables.  They cannot eat seed or pellets.