Lories and Lorikeets

Lories and lorikeets are small parrots from Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia that all have one nifty adaptation: a brush-like tongue that’s terrific at lapping up nectar, one of their favorite foods! They also have a curved beak that helps them crack open nuts and seeds or pick up insects. Lories are slightly larger than lorikeets but have shorter tails. The many species in this group of birds come in different vibrant color combinations.

Lories and lorikeets live in large groups in trees. Some are active during the day, others at night. They use loud vocalizations to communicate with another as a group while they look for food or roost. Mating pairs make nests in tree cavities, where a female will lay a few eggs and incubate them. Both parents care for the young for about 2 months. Like other parrots, these birds are long-lived—up to 25 years or more in human care.