Fun Coconut Lorikeet Facts For Kids

Coconut lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) is a parrot and belongs to the Psittacidae family. This parrot species is native to New Guinea but inhabits eastern Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. They are sometimes mixed up with rainbow lorikeet birds because of their bright plumage that consists of varying colors, like yellow, green, brown. Their main body part is green; the upper abdominal region is red, the lower body part has stripes of yellow and orange hues. Apart from the yellow and orange hues, the head portion is a blend of blue and red. They have a bright red beak. Adults have small circular orange eyes, while juveniles have brown eyes. Coconut lorikeets can be identified by their plumage coloration and the pattern of their tail. They possess a long pointed tail, while other types of lorikeets bear a shorter tail rounded at the tip.

These birds from the islands of New Guinea and Indonesia are extremely intelligent with remarkable personalities. They can learn to utter words and can sing beautifully. They are highly jovial and seem to befriend humans to take food. They are fond of nectar and pollen. Thus, they require flowers in abundance and are sedentary. They usually build their nests in a tree cavity, especially the eucalyptus tree. These birds, just like the parrots, are territorial in nature. These birds are endemic and thus, are not seen to migrate to other parts of the world. However, their flight patterns show that they fly with their partners or in small groups searching for food and shelter in their habitat range. Their cost is somewhere between $500 to $1500 and is extremely popular in aviaries.

If you liked reading this article, then do check out the Ultramarine Lorikeet and Lorikeet.

What type of animal is a coconut lorikeet?

The coconut lorikeet is a bird belonging to the Psittacidae family. They were previously called rainbow parrots.

What class of animal does a coconut lorikeet belong to?

The coconut lorikeet belongs to the class Aves and the genus Trichoglossus. The rainbow lorikeet is also part of the same genus.

How many coconut lorikeets are there in the world?

There are more than six subspecies of coconut lorikeets in the world. However, the exact population of these birds hasn't been estimated.

Where does a coconut lorikeet live?

Lorikeets are endemic to New Guinea. They also inhabit eastern Indonesia, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. However, they are not found in New Zealand like the rainbow lorikeet, the kea, or the kakapo parrots.

What is a coconut lorikeet's habitat?

The coconut lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) is extensively seen in rainforests, mangrove forests, woodlands, meadows, and islands and coastal areas with coconut plantations. These birds require trees with abundant flowers so that they can feed on their favorite nectar and pollen. They are also spotted in orchards and gardens with lush greeneries and inflorescence. They prefer areas of dense vegetation and low rainfall.

Who does coconut lorikeet live with?

The coconut lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) is colonial in nature and is often spotted traveling in pairs. They are also seen in small flocks and are usually very territorial in nature.

How long does a coconut lorikeet live?

The coconut lorikeet can live for up to 25 years when held captive. Their lifespan ranges from about 15-20 years in the wild which is similar to most parrots.

How do they reproduce?

The coconut lorikeet reproduces by laying eggs. They can lay one to three eggs. Their breeding period begins in the months of September and October. The parents incubate their eggs for about a month. The young ones fledge after 80 days. These species of parrots are monogamous and stick to their partners throughout their life. They roam about in pairs and build their nest together in the tree cavities during breeding, preferably eucalyptus and other long trees. The coconut lorikeet pairs are seen to build nests in the same tree. But each pair is extremely aware and guards their nest to prevent others from entering. Males seem to be more aggressive and impose threats to any potential intruders who try to attack the young.

What is their conservation status?

 The International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN Red List has listed the coconut lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) is a species of Least Concern. However, the population trend of these bird species and their subspecies is slowly decreasing due to habitat loss and illegal trafficking.

What does a coconut lorikeet look like?

The coconut lorikeet looks fascinating in its colorful plumage. This bird species possess vibrant colors; bright red, which is present in their breast region, watermelon green-colored upper body, blue head with an orange bill. Their abdomen region has stripes of yellow, and they have long pointed tail that is delicately arranged with pretty feathers. They belong to the species of parrot and thus, possess their attractive features.

How cute are they?

Coconut lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) are considered extremely cute because of their captivating plumage of different colors and interactive behavior. Other similar parrot species like the rainbow lorikeet are also quite cute.

How do they communicate?

They interact with screeching calls that are somewhat shrill and high-pitched. They are good singers with sweet and melodious voice quality. Their singing is quite loud and crystal clear. This bird tends to communicate with humans and often mimics them and asks for food. They can be trained and taught certain words and phrases.

How big is a coconut lorikeet?

These birds (Trichoglossus haematodus) are 9.84-11.81 in (25-30 cm) in length and bigger in size than parakeets and warblers.

How fast can a coconut lorikeet fly?

Like other parrots, lorikeets have well-developed breast muscles that help them to fly over long distances. Their population can travel for up to 62.13 mi (100 km) a day, searching for food. Their long tail and streamlined body help them to fly through trees during their breeding season.

How much does a coconut lorikeet weigh?

This bird of the Trichoglossus species is about 0.240-0.302 lb (109-137 g) in weight.

What are the male and female names of the species?

No names are given to the male and female birds of this species (Trichoglossus haematodus).

What would you call a baby coconut lorikeet?

The baby coconut lorikeet is called a chick.

What do they eat?

The birds of this species are fond of nectar from the flowers in the wild. Apart from this, their diet involves various types of fruits and berries. Coconut is a fruit of choice. They also include insect and insect larvae in their diet.

Are they dangerous?

These birds are not considered dangerous. They do not impose any threat to humans.

Would they make a good pet?

These birds make great pets because of their jolly nature and intelligent moves. They are friendly with humans and tend to pick up words and phrases. They are also seen swinging from tree branches like trapeze artists to get hold of flowers. These birds can easily be maintained in aviaries.

Please follow local laws and regulations regarding any animal as a pet.

Did you know...

The birds of this species possess a characteristic rolling tongue. This tongue contains brushes at the tip, which helps them to gather nectar and pollen from the coconut. Their tongue also contains specialized papillae that help them to experience the taste of different fruits.

There is no sexual dimorphism seen in these birds. Males can not be identified and distinguished from the females based on their appearance. Observing their nature closely can help to identify males as they are a little aggressive.

These species suffer from iron storage disease. Excessive accumulation of iron in the liver results in this disease which is characterized by muscle breakdown. Since these birds involve a diet of excessive iron, they are much more prone to this disease.

How many types of lorikeets are there? 

There are more than 53 species of lorikeets in the world; six species are native to Australia. Apart from this, there is a large variety of subspecies. All of these differ from each other in terms of their plumage coloration.

Are rainbow lorikeets aggressive? 

They are not considered to be aggressive as such. But males are seen to impose threats to intruders. These birds have a very territorial nature and tend to chase off smaller birds from the trees or other areas of their residence. 

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Azure Winged Magpie Facts and Common Raven Facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Rainbow Lorikeets Coloring Pages.

Main image by Benjamint444.