The scaly-breasted lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus) is a small parrot native to eastern Australia. It’s commonly found in regions from Queensland down to New South Wales. This lorikeet gets its name from the unique green and yellow feathers on its chest, which create a pattern resembling scales.
The bird’s bright green body and an orange-red beak make it a colourful sight in Australian woodlands and urban areas. Unlike other birds, it often goes unnoticed when perched among the leaves, but its loud, high-pitched calls give away its location as it flies through parks, gardens, and lightly wooded areas.
Description
Size
The scaly-breasted lorikeet measures about 23 cm (9.1 inches) long.
Plumage
Its feathers are mainly green, featuring a unique yellow scaling on the breast that adds to its charm.
Distinct Markings
The bird's orange-red beak captures attention, complemented by yellow-edged green feathers. Orange-red underwing coverts add a splash of color when in flight.
Sexual Dimorphism
Males and females have nearly identical appearances, making it difficult to tell them apart at a glance.
Juveniles
Juvenile scaly-breasted lorikeets have shorter tails compared to adults. Their eyes are pale brown or black, and their bills differ in color, displaying brown tones with yellow markings.
Habitat
Geographic Range
The scaly-breasted lorikeet is commonly found along the coastal plains of eastern Australia, stretching from Queensland down to New South Wales. Its range includes some offshore islands, where it remains a familiar sight.
Preferred Environment
These birds prefer open spaces with light tree cover, including coastal plains and melaleuca thickets. They’re often seen in lightly timbered areas and sometimes venture into urban gardens and parks.
Behavioural Adaptations
Scaly-breasted lorikeets easily adapt to life near humans. In cities, they visit gardens and parks, especially when flowers are in bloom. You might also find them near watercourses in more natural settings, where they gather around flowering trees.
Diet
Primary Diet
Scaly-breasted lorikeets feed mainly on nectar and pollen, especially from native plants like Melaleuca. Their brush-tipped tongues help them extract these from flowers with ease.
Secondary Food Sources
In addition to nectar, these lorikeets enjoy blossoms, fruits, berries, and occasionally insects and larvae. They take advantage of what's available in their surroundings.
Foraging Habits
They are often seen gathering in the outer branches of flowering trees, searching for their next meal. These lorikeets can also cause damage to crops, particularly in orchards, where they munch on fruits or raid unripe grains like sorghum and maize.
Behaviour
Flight Pattern
Scaly-breasted lorikeets are swift flyers with a straight flight path. Their wings beat rapidly, allowing them to cover longer distances with ease. You might hear their wingbeats before spotting them overhead. Their speed and movement are often quick, making them seem like flashes of green darting through the sky.
Flocking Behaviour
These lorikeets usually travel in small groups, although they sometimes mix with rainbow lorikeets in larger flocks. Whether feeding or flying, they tend to stay close to one another. They’re often seen perched high in flowering trees, nibbling away at nectar and pollen.
Vocalisations
If there’s one thing that stands out about scaly-breasted lorikeets, it’s their noise. Their high-pitched screeches and chattering fill the air, especially during flight. When feeding, they communicate through sharp chirps and tweets. While at rest, their sounds soften to gentle, almost soothing twitters.
Camouflage
With their mostly green feathers, scaly-breasted lorikeets are difficult to spot among the tree branches where they feed. You’ll likely notice their bright coral beak before anything else. Their preference for staying in the outermost branches adds to the challenge of seeing them clearly, especially in dense foliage.
Breeding
Breeding happens mainly between August and January, though it can occur year-round in northern regions. These birds nest in tree hollows, where the female lays two to three white eggs. After about 25 days of incubation, the eggs hatch. Both parents help feed the chicks, which leave the nest six to eight weeks after hatching.
Conservation Status
Current Population
Scaly-breasted lorikeets are plentiful in the northern-coloured regions of Australia. Their numbers become less stable in the south, where they tend to wander in search of food.
Threats
In some areas, these birds are seen as agricultural pests because they feed on fruits and grains. Their feeding habits can lead to significant damage in orchards and farms.
Conservation Measures
Currently, scaly-breasted lorikeets do not face any serious threats. They are not classified as endangered or protected, allowing their population to remain stable across their habitat.
Fun Facts
- Locals often call scaly-breasted lorikeets "scalies" because of their unique feather patterns that resemble scales.
- The bright coral-red beak usually reveals their presence, even when they hide among the trees.
- A rare blue mutation of the scaly-breasted lorikeet has been bred in captivity.
- These birds can live for 20 to 25 years, given the right care.
- Spacious enclosures with a proper diet of nectar, fresh fruits, and vegetables support their well-being.
- Their playful nature brings joy to those fortunate enough to care for them.
Similar Species
Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
The rainbow lorikeet often grabs attention with its bold, multi-coloured feathers. This species shares a similar size and diet with the scaly-breasted lorikeet, but its vibrant plumage makes it easily recognisable.
Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna)
With a green body, the musk lorikeet resembles the scaly-breasted lorikeet at first glance. However, it stands apart with a distinctive red forehead and less prominent scaling on its feathers.
Key Differences
The yellow-scaled breast of the scaly-breasted lorikeet sets it apart from these other green lorikeets. Its unique markings help birdwatchers and enthusiasts quickly identify it in the wild.
