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Status in the Wild

World Population:
5,000,000 or more, although there is concern for some races (T.h. mitchelli, T.h. djampeanus, T.h. rosenbergii, T.h. forsteni).

Range:
T.h. haematodus: found in Tayandu, Kai Islands, west through Watubela and Seramlaut Islands to Seram, Ambon, and Buru, South Moluccas, and W Papuan Islands to islands in Geelvink Bay, excluding Biak, and W New Guinea, east to Astrolabe Bay, Papua New Guinea and in south to upper Fly River, W Papua New Guinea; Manam and possibly Schouten Islands, N Papua New Guinea. T.h. rosenbergii: occurs on Biak Island, Geelvink Bay, Irian Jaya. T.h. micropteryx: found E Papua New Guinea, west to Huon Peninsula in north to central ranges around Lake Kutubu and to Hall Sound in south; also Misima Island in Louisiade Archipelago. T.h. caeruleiceps: found S New Guinea between lower Fly River, SW Papua New Guinea and Princess Marianne Straits, SE Irian Jaya; also Boigu and Saibai Islands, northern Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia. T.h. nigrogularis: occurs on Aru Islands and E Kai Islands, Indonesia. T.h. massena: found on Karkar Island and Bismarck Archipelago, E Papua New Guinea, east through Bougainville and Solomon Islands to Vanuatu. T.h. flavicans: occurs in New Hanover, Admiralty Islands and Nuguria Islands, E Papua New Guinea. T.h. nesophilus: found in Hermit and Ninigo Islands, N Papua New Guinea. T.h. deplanchii: found on New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands. T.h. moluccanus: occurs in SE and E Australia from Gulf of Carpentaria and S Cape York Peninsula, N Queensland, south to S Victoria and SE South Australia, including Kangaroo Island; also Tasmania and introduced to Perth district, SW Australia. T.h. septentrionalis: found N Queensland, on islands in Torres Strait, excluding Boigu and Saibai; also Cape York Peninsula south to Endeavour and Daintree Rivers. T.h. rubritorquis: occurs in N Australia from Kimberley division of W Australia east to Gulf of Carpentaria, N Queensland. T.h. flavotectus: found on Wetar, Romang and Kisar Islands, northeast of Timor. T.h. capistratus: found on Timor. T.h. weberi: occurs on Flores, Lesser Sunda Islands. T.h. fortis: found Sumba, Lesser Sunda Islands. T.h. mitchellii: found on Bali and Lombok. T.h. forsteni: occurs on Sumbawa, Lesser Sunda Islands. T.h. djampeanus: found on Tanahjampea Island in Flores Sea. T.h. stresemanni: occurs on Kalaotoa Island in Flores Sea.

Habitat:
Most common in lowlands but found up to 2400m (7872 ft). Wide variety of areas including settlements, forest, coconut plantations, savanna, eucalypt stands and mangroves.

Threat Summary:
Heavy trapping for wild bird trade.

IUCN Rating:
Least concern; however, since 1981 over 100,000 individuals have been traded on international market.

Wild Diet:
Feeds mainly on nectar but will also take figs, insects and can be found around man-made feeding stations.

CITES Rating:
Appendix II

Ecology:
Found in mixed flocks with other parrots; in small noisy groups. Nomadic, as they are dependent on flowering trees. Roosts communally in groups of hundreds of birds. Will also roost and nest on the ground on some of the predator-free islands. Displays frequently.

Clutch and Egg Size:
2 to 3 ovate eggs, 27.0 x 22.5mm (1 x 0.9 in).

Breeding Season:
Breeding recorded most months in Indonesia, New Guinea and N Australia; S Australia August-January.

More Info Sites:
http://www.fatbirder.com/species_and_families/non_passerines/loriidae.html

http://www.parrotsociety.org.au/articles/art_023.htm

http://www.faunanet.gov.au/wos/factfile.cfm?Fact_ID=430

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Lorikeet

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=97