ID Lorikeets

Lorikeets are colourful, noisy and often seen in flocks feeding on nectar. This guide helps you tell apart 7 mainland Australian species - Little Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Rainbow Lorikeet, Red-collared Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet and Varied Lorikeet.

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Little Lorikeet

Red face that doesn’t extend beyond the eye, black bill (beak), and yellow-bronze mantle behind its head. Found from Cairns in QLD, through NSW, VIC and south-eastern SA. Small and uncommon populations also found in TAS.

Musk Lorikeet

Red patches on the side of its head and above its beak, dark blue crown (head), and yellow patch near the start of its wing. Found in south-eastern Australia including NSW, VIC, SA and TAS.

Purple-crowned Lorikeet

Red-orangey-yellow patches around its bill, purple crown (head), yellow-orange cheek patches, and pale blue throat and breast. Found across the southern parts of mainland Australia including south-west WA, SA (including Kangaroo Island), and most of VIC, extending into the far south of NSW.

Rainbow Lorikeet

Violet blue head, orange-red breast, and yellow-green hind-collar behind its head.

Red-collared Lorikeet

Looks similar to a Rainbow Lorikeet but has an orange-red hind-collar and band of dark blue behind its head and a bright orange breast. Found in northern Australia from the Kimberley region of WA, across the NT, and extending into the far north-western part of QLD.

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

All-green body with yellow scales on underbody and all-green head. Found along the eastern coastal regions of Australia, from the tip of Cape York in northern QLD to Wollongong in NSW, and has also been introduced to VIC.

Varied Lorikeet

Red head, white around eye, and white above head. Found across northern Australia, from Broome in WA, through the NT, and into northern QLD.

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