The Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) is a parrot species found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. There are a number of subspecies across the range that have differences in their plumage, though all are brightly coloured.In Australia, it is commonly found along the eastern seaboard from Queensland to South Australia and Tasmania. It lives in the rainforest, in coastal bush and woodland areas and has been introduced to Perth as well as in Auckland, New Zealand and into Hong Kong.
Other names: Australian rainbow lorikeet, coconut lorikeet, blue-bellied lorikeet
Geographical variation: New Zealand birds were predominantly of the subspecies T. haemotodus moluccanus from eastern Australia and T.h. rubritorquis from northern Australia, but two captured birds showed features of subspecies T. h. nigrogularis from Indonesia.
Our lorikeets either came from the Aquarium’s breeding program or from U.S. captive breeding programs. None have been imported. All our lorikeets including Swainson’s have distinctive personalities and even respond to the names given them by the aviculturists who feed and nurture them.