Rainbow lorikeet is a type of parrot known for its brightly colored plumage (feathers). A lorikeet can be distinguished from other parrots by its tongue, which resembles a scrub brush. The rainbow lorikeet is the largest of the Australian lorikeets, measuring 10 to 12 inches (25 to 31 centimeters) in length. It can be found in the rain forest, forests, and suburban and urban areas with trees. 
Both male and female rainbow lorikeets have bright blue feathers on their heads and bellies. The bird’s back, nape (neck), tail, and wings have green feathers. The feathers on the breast are orange and yellow. The bird’s beak is bright red. Younger rainbow lorikeets have darker plumage and a brown beak.
Rainbow lorikeets are native to the north and east coast of Australia, as well as parts of Indonesia and other islands in the South Pacific. They have also established a non-native population on the west coast of Australia around Perth.
The rainbow lorikeet feeds chiefly on flowering plants and trees. It uses its beak to crush the flowers and its tongue to suck out the plant’s nectar. It also eats fruit, seeds, and insects. Lorikeets will travel up and down the coasts in flocks, following the blooming seasons of food plants. Living in large flocks helps protect the birds from predators such as birds of prey and snakes. Its call is a loud screech. 
The rainbow lorikeet usually nests in hollow tree limbs. The female lays two eggs on chewed and decayed wood inside the nest. The chicks remain in the nest for nearly two months. The parents continue feeding the chicks for two to three weeks after the chicks begin flying. Rainbow lorikeets usually mate for life.
In the first half of the 1900’s, the rainbow lorikeet population significantly declined around Sydney, New South Wales. Since 1950, the population has returned to previous levels. The bird is considered an invasive species in Tasmania and New Zealand. Invasive species are animal or plant populations that, when introduced to a non-native habitat, negatively affect the local environment and wildlife.
