Lories and lorikeets are small to medium-sized arboreal parrots which comprise the subfamily Loriinae. They are widely distributed throughout the Australasian region, including south-eastern Asia, Polynesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia, and the majority have very brightly colored plumage.
Lories and lorikeets are softbill and have specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar and soft fruits. They can feed from the flowers of about 5,000 species of plants and use their specialized tongues to take the nectar. The tip of their tongues have tufts of papillae (extremely fine hairs), which collect nectar and pollen.
Lories are called the ‘clowns’ of the bird world due to their hyperactivity and spunky nature. They are very easily tamed and are very curious in nature. They are explorers who love to check out every nook and cranny of their surroundings.
These birds can be very aggressive towards each other. They are also jealous creatures, especially when their companion is paying attention to someone else and not making them the center of attention.
Lories are among the most specialized of all the parrots in their feeding habits. In the wild, they have adapted to feeding on nectar and pollen from flowers. There are commercially available lory nectars which should be used as the base of the diet. In addition to nectar, fruits and vegetables are an essential part of the lory diet.
Pet Status:
Excellent Pets
Life Span:
10 years for smaller breeds, 20 to 35 years for the larger breeds
Talking Abilities:
Poor
Noise Level:
Smaller breed – Low, Larger breeds – Medium to High
Breeding Ability:
Good
Number of Eggs:
2
Incubation Period:
21 to 23 Days
Compatibility with other Species:
Due to special dietary needs, it is not recommended to mix species
