© by James Lagden

Other names: Spanish: El lori arcoiris; German: Allfarblori oder Keilschwanzlori; French: Le Loriquet à tête bleue; Italian: Il lorichetto arcobaleno

A species of Australasian parrot found in Australia, eastern Indonesia (Maluku and Western New Guinea), Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In Australia, it is common along the eastern seaboard, from Queensland to South Australia and northwest Tasmania. Its habitat is rainforest, coastal bush and woodland areas.

Rainbow Lorikeets often travel together in pairs and occasionally respond to calls to fly as a flock, then disperse again into pairs. Rainbow Lorikeet pairs defend their feeding and nesting areas aggressively against other Rainbow Lorikeets and other bird species. They chase off not only smaller birds such as the Noisy Miner, but also larger and more powerful birds such as the Australian Magpie.

(Source: www.wikipedia.org)

Interesting is:

This beautifully colorful bird from the parrot family has been listed by the Australian government as an unwanted organism because of the damage it does to fruit trees. It can ruin 70 to 90 percent of fruit crops when it decides to feed on them. It is also a somewhat aggressive bird when it comes to food and will actually take over areas that had been feeding grounds for other birds. There is now a penalty for letting a pet rainbow Lorikeet go free....

...Even though they are considered pests they are a work of art to look at and are actually quite friendly creatures....

...The tips of their tongues have tiny hairs so that they can get the nectar out of fruits more easily....

...They rest in trees in groups of hundreds and feed usually in groups of less than 20. When the birds mate they will leave the group and build themselves a nest in a hole in a tree hollow. The female lorikeet will lay two white eggs which she will sit on for about 25 days with the company of the male bird. Together they will take care of the babies once they hatch until they leave the nest after about 8 weeks. Afterwards the young bird will join other unmated birds in the communal roost so that the parents can have new babies. After two years these young birds have reached sexual maturity and will in turn find a mate and have a family of their own. These birds are known to live about 20 years in the wild...

...Rainbow Lorikeets live off nectar mostly and water they find in leaves. They will fly up to 50 kilometers, (31 miles), to find food and even develop a flight pattern that they follow everyday...

(Source: www.australianfauna.com)

James shot this photo with Canon 5D MkII, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

ISO 800, 400mm, 1/320 f/5.6, Aperture Priority

Moreover he told me:

This was taken at Osprey House (Dohles Rock Road).

One of the most colourful birds in Australia, but often overlooked by bird photographers as they are too common! The saturation has been reduced on this image to make it easier on the eye.

Have a look here for more info about Osprey House Environmental Centre : http://www.ospreyhouse.asn.au/

And here for James homepage for more of his stunning captures: www.jameslagden.com

Thanx again for your permission to post your photo here!