Family Parrots (Psittacidae)
Least Concern
Varied Lorikeet (Psitteuteles versicolor)
Taxonomy
French: Loriquet versicolore German: Buntlori Spanish: Lori versicolor
Taxonomy:
Trichoglossus versicolor
Lear
, 1831,Cape York, Queensland, Australia
.Distribution:
N Australia from Western Australia (Kimberley Division) E to NC Queensland (W Cape York Peninsula).
Descriptive notes
18–19 cm; 51–62 g. Bill orange-red; forehead to mid-crown red; bare orbital ring white; ear-coverts tufted yellow; rest of head bluish green with narrow yellow... read more
Voice
Commonest call a shrill “shreet!”, heard both in flight and when perched. Groups in flight utter... read more
Habitat
Wooded country, being especially attracted to paperbarks (Melaleuca) and eucalypts... read more
Food and feeding
Pollen and nectar from the flowers of bloodwoods Eucalyptus terminalis and E. polycarpa, also E. tetradonta and... read more
Breeding
Chiefly Apr–Aug, although recorded at all times of year. Nest in hollow limb or hole fairly high in tree. Eggs 2–5; in... read more
Movements
Visitor only to E coast of Cape York Peninsula, and elsewhere nomadic in response to availability... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. CITES II. Generally considered to be common in most habitats, but owing to nomadism it can disappear from some areas for long periods of time.
Monotypic.