Editing Rainbow lorikeet (section)

== Behaviour ==
[[File:Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) -drinking.jpg|thumb|Drinking with its tongue. The genus name ''Trichoglossus'' means "brush tongue" in Greek.]]
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]] and the [[little wattlebird]], but also larger birds such as the [[Australian magpie]].

=== Diet ===
[[File:Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, New South Wales, AU imported from iNaturalist photo 350109099.jpg|thumb|Eating watermelon with a [[scaly-breasted lorikeet]]]]
Rainbow lorikeets feed mainly on fruit, pollen and nectar, and possess a tongue adapted especially for their particular diet. The end of the tongue is equipped with a [[papillate]] appendage adapted to gathering pollen and nectar from flowers.<ref>Low, R. (1977): ''Lories and Lorikeets – the brush-tongued parrots''. [[Paul Elek]] Ltd., London</ref> Nectar from [[eucalyptus]] is important in Australia, other important nectar sources are ''[[Pittosporum]]'', ''[[Grevillea]]'', ''[[Spathodea campanulata]]'' (African tulip-tree), and ''[[Metroxylon sagu]]'' (sago palm).<ref name = "HBW"/> In Melanesia [[coconut]]s are very important food sources, and rainbow lorikeets are important pollinators of these.<ref name = "Vanuatu"/> They also consume the fruits of ''[[Ficus]]'', ''[[Trema (plant)|Trema]]'', ''[[Muntingia]]'', as well as papaya and mangoes already opened by [[fruit bat]]s. They also eat crops such as [[apple]]s, and will raid [[maize]] and [[sorghum]].<ref name = "HBW"/>  They are also frequent visitors at bird feeders placed in gardens, which supply store-bought nectar, sunflower seeds, and fruits such as apples, grapes and pears.

In many places, including campsites and suburban gardens, wild lorikeets are so used to humans that they can be hand-fed. The [[Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Queensland]], Australia, is noted for its thousands of lorikeets. Around 8am and 4pm each day the birds gather in a huge, noisy flock in the park's main area. Visitors are encouraged to feed them a specially prepared nectar, and the birds will happily settle on people's arms and heads to consume it. Wild rainbow lorikeets can also be hand-fed by visitors at [[Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary]] in [[Brisbane]], Queensland, Australia.

Semi-tame lorikeets are common daily visitors in many Sydney backyards, though many people, ignorant of their dietary requirements, feed them bread or bread coated with honey. This is an inadequate source of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that the rainbow lorikeet requires and can lead to health and feather formation issues in young lorikeets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reptilepark.com.au/animalprofile.asp?id=37 |title=Rainbow Lorikeet Diet, Habitat & Reproduction - |location=NSW |publisher=Reptilepark.com.au |access-date=2018-04-14 |archive-date=2016-03-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325000020/http://www.reptilepark.com.au/animalprofile.asp?id=37 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Packet mixes with a nutritional mix suitable for feeding lorikeets are generally available from vets and pet stores.<ref>{{cite web|title=Feeding Lorikeets|url=http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-sheets/pets/pets-pet-care-native-animals/feeding-lorikeets/2374/#.WFOCAWW9q0s|website=Burke's Backyard|date=19 September 2013 |access-date=16 December 2016}}</ref><gallery mode="packed" heights="160">
File:Lorikeet closeup.jpg|Drinking ''[[Banksia]]'' nectar
File:Rainbow lorikeet and Aloe sp Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha P1030135.jpg|Drinking ''[[Aloe]]'' nectar
File:(1)Rainbow Lorikeet 057a.jpg|Drinking ''[[Grevillea]]'' nectar
File:Rainbow lorikeet 7th Brigade Park Chermside P1110169.jpg|Drinking ''[[Erythrina crista-galli]]'' nectar
</gallery>

=== Breeding ===
[[File:Rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus) mating at Peel Zoo, September 2020 01.jpg|200px|thumb|Rainbow lorikeets mating at [[Peel Zoo]], Western Australia]]
[[File:Rainbow lorikeet in arboreal termite nest7th Brigade Park Chermside P1270780.jpg|right|thumb|In a termite nest]]
In southern Australia, breeding usually occurs from late winter to early summer (August to January). Elsewhere in Australia, breeding has been recorded in every month except March, varying from region to region due to changes in food availability and climate.<ref name=Chapman /> Nesting sites are variable and can include hollows of tall trees such as [[eucalypt]]s, palm trunks, or overhanging rock.<ref name=Chapman>{{cite web |url=http://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1034&context=misc_pbns |title=The status and impact of the Rainbow Lorikeet (''Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus'') in South-West Western Australia |access-date=18 October 2017 |format=PDF |work= Wildlife Branch, Department of Conservation and Land Management|author=Tamra Chapman}}</ref> One population in the [[Admiralty Islands]] nests in holes in the ground on predator-free islets.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lecroy|first=M |author2=Peckover, WS |author3=K Kisokau |year=1992|title= A Population of Rainbow Lorikeets ''Trichoglossus haematodus flavicans'' Roosting and Nesting on the Ground|journal=[[Emu (journal)|Emu]]|volume=92|issue=3|pages=187–190 | doi = 10.1071/MU9920187 |bibcode=1992EmuAO..92..187L |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/mu/pdf/mu9920187|url-access=subscription}}</ref>  Pairs sometimes nest in the same tree with other rainbow lorikeet pairs, or other bird species.<ref name=Chapman/>  The [[clutch (eggs)|clutch size]] is between one and three eggs, which are [[avian incubation|incubated]] for around 25 days.<ref name = "HBW"/> Incubation duties are carried out by the female alone.<ref name = "Vanuatu">{{cite book|last=Bregulla|first=Heinrich|title=Birds of Vanuatu|publisher=Anthony Nelson|location=Oswestry, England|year=1992|pages=189–191|isbn=0-904614-34-4}}</ref>

Rainbow lorikeets are mostly monogamous and remain paired for long periods, if not for life.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Greive|first1=Bradley Trevor|title=Priceless: The Vanishing Beauty of A Fragile Planet|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|date=2002|isbn=978-0740726958|page=[https://archive.org/details/pricelessvanishi0000grei/page/144 144]|url=https://archive.org/details/pricelessvanishi0000grei|url-access=registration|quote=rainbow lorikeet monogamous.|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref>