Rainbow Lorikeets

The rainbow lorikeet has a heart of gold and an insatiable will to dominate. This time we'll find out how this humble parrot took over a nation and won us over in the process.
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[@MrNotaracist93]

Most nature docs will just say "this species is native to australia" and completely neglect that australia is a massive place where native animals can become pests elsewhere. I admire how thoroughly you explain everything in these videos while keeping it entertaining! Keep up the good work

[@the-Backyard-Naturalist]

Yeah they don't seem to realise that Australia is a continent with many diverse ecosystems and climates, separated by deserts, mountains and seas.

[@ianking-jv4hg]

Also there are subspecies of rainbows in Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomons, Vanuatu and the New Hebrides.

[@kredonystus7768]

Same goes with laughing kookaburras. Most WA locals don't realise they are introduced and outcompete the native kingfishers.

[@AnneMarieNicol]

We are the “ pests” ! We intrude their world.

[@ianking-jv4hg]

@@AnneMarieNicol tell that to my mad rainbow lorikeet "ARky" (almost road kill) Trichoglossus haematodus. A well travelled bird that couldn't fly. Walk, car, boat, bus, train but no plane ! Mad, he liked good loud music and getting almost as drunk as me.

[@jackaufenhand5710]

My aunt has a pet lorikeet. His name is Paulie and he likes to imitate people. He imitates calling the dog, phone calls, and when my aunt smokes a bong, he not only imitates the sound of the bong, but also specifically imitates her cough afterward. He also imitates her laugh even when it devolves into coughing.

[@robwilcox7284]

That comment is pure gold 👏🏻😂 I would love to meet your Aunt and her pet Lorikeet 🫶🏼

[@jzawh]

I love this 😅

[@AV-sl9wg]

Our son and his fiance also have two of them which the male will initiate everything he hears including the radio conversation of the host, the dishwasher, the microwave and of course the laughter.

[@Mugruncher]

Your aunt sounds cool as hell 😎

[@georgew.9663]

Your aunt sounds fukin mad

[@aarondavies5621]

the amount of excitement when I see a new backyard naturalist viddy drops >>>

[@grandmothergoose]

Same. I check every Sunday night and if there's no new video from this channel, I find myself rewatching the previous ones again.

[@r4gn4r0k69]

whats bro pointing to 😭😭😭 stop like begging kid

[@depreshawn]

​@@r4gn4r0k69 me when i skip maths class:

[@jimmywrangles]

As a wildlife carer we used to call these birds "Flying Boltcutters", they'll bite you and then make eye contact and bite harder...scary hard.

[@richardwinzor2961]

Threw in every nickname but the flying fruit tingle.

[@Flesh_Wizard]

The bird:🥰 The bird's call: 👹 Love the Lorikeets

[@tazgecko]

Love these birds. Sitting back with a hot cupper watching these guys stuff around. Weekends are made for it.

[@danielkelly8756]

That's the sulfer cockatoos, the rainbow lorikeets have sweet calls

[@Zoosmell413]

And magpie's are the opposite.

[@bygoditsfullofstars]

Aussie birds in a nutshell

[@shakeelali20]

The Rainbow Lorikeet. Arguably the cutest and most annoying alarm clock in existence. The soundtrack to most Aussie's mornings across the country.

[@trinefanmel]

Can relate. Sometimes they all decide to roost in the eucalypts on the next hill over from me. On the evenings they roost there, you can hear them as late into the night as 12 or 1 am. I walked under there one afternoon just as they were roosting for the night and it was DEAFENIING! I loved it!

[@metaidentity]

Ah, the rainbow mafia. Another great video :)

[@zeropoint546]

That is exactly what my wife and I call them.

[@benstevens3220]

Darcy mate! You made it happen!! Thank you so much. Love seeing these shrieking rainbows in my back yard.

[@the-Backyard-Naturalist]

Made this one just for you mate

[@justaperson8381]

The picture of the lorikeet with a gun got me

[@grantb8168]

My Buddy and his untrustworthy Missus decided to amp up his relationship with me this year. He said, "If I land on you're head, I want sunflower seeds. If I land on your shoulder, I want sunflower seeds and if I land on your screen door and whistle for thirty minutes, I want sunflower seeds." Apparently sunflower seeds are his favourite because if I feed him other seeds, he gives me the bird, (pun intended) and disappears for several days. Picky bloody eater. Awesome job, Darcy ... and the Oscar goes to, The Backyard Naturalist. Yay.

[@the-Backyard-Naturalist]

That's a little bit wholesome! Always a pleasure to read your comments Grant

[@grantb8168]

@@the-Backyard-Naturalist Nice to know I have a purpose in life, Darcy; I'll try to up my game for the next Blockbuster Episode of The Backyard Naturalist. I knew I should have poignantly referred to "More Rainbows than a Pride Parade on Acid." Of course, my uping my game means the expectation is on you to exceed all previous endeavours. Where else is my inspiration going to come from? See you in the next one.

[@grantodaniel7053]

Hi Grant, you want to be careful with the sunflower seeds - they're chock full of fats. We "spoiled" our pet galah with them because they were his favourite too, and we nearly lost him. He developed a large lipoma in his lower abdomen which had to be surgically removed, and the vet, after querying his diet, told us about the high fat content of the sunflower seeds. So we keep them to a minimum in his diet now. His fave treat now is brocholli?! 😅😅 All the best from SA. 👍

[@emceeboogieboots1608]

Broccoli hey? Will be planting some soon and will see if our noisy arsehat likes it

[@seaztheday4418]

Please consider feeding them fruit and flower blossoms instead. Being fed too many seeds can destroy the delicate 'feather' on their tongues that they use to eat their natural diet; fruits and flower nectar. If their tongues are damaged, they find it harder to survive in the wild.

[@moodycxnt]

I notice the red, blue and yellow all camouflage well too. When they're feeding on nectar the red and yellow often blends in with flowers and shrubs, and blue with the sky!

[@uzetaab]

It bears repeating that if you want to feed native birds you do it by planting native trees.

[@jonh9561]

Rarer than an Eshay with a valid train ticket ........gold!

[@Divadosaurus]

It made me lol out loud

[@peg7973]

My favourite bird in the whole wide world.

[@humanrich]

“Confetti conquistadors have colonised this continent.” Fantastic writing.

[@Ihadthismate]

“These sky high tie dyes” is perfect

[@humanrich]

@@Ihadthismate it’s giving Lano and Woodley.

[@NeedsMoreBirds]

They're beautiful little bastards, that's for sure.

[@martinkuliza]

they are, and cheeky little bastards at that

[@Lara-rj5fi]

Woohoo, another video from our Aussie Attenborough. ❤

[@NeuroKytsh]

every summer all i ever hear is lorikeets in my back garden, its great. i have wattlebirds and ravens living in my garden too and theyre all always bickering, endless entertainment

[@sicpuppy9435]

My hand raised female rainbow Lorikeet lived for 30 years and had a vocabulary of around 6 / 8 words

[@Jagermonsta]

6:25 I'm in QLD, about 3 weeks ago I had to take a Lori to the vet, it wasn't able to fly and wasn't able to walk properly. Still put up a good fight when I put it in the box though, hope the little guy is alright. Doesn't sound good though :(

[@pipers_river]

The second Tassie hybrid Lori is giving Rainbow Paddlepop

[@qbmac2306]

Your alliteration never ceases to amaze me.

[@ConstantlyDamaged]

Ah. Glad they pissed off and didn't hang around my little sparrow feeder, then. I think they dropped in only to cause some biffo. They'd brawl with sparrows and spotted doves like crazy, hardly even go near the feeder, then leave again. Thanks again for another great video!

[@the-Backyard-Naturalist]

They absolutely live for a punch on

[@MagpieManor]

Really love these cheeky, noisy Birds! They always come in pairs or massive flocks and they have their own personalities. Oh and the colours and chirps are the best! Thanks for the video! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@the-Backyard-Naturalist]

Thank you! Love your birdy vids :)

[@MagpieManor]

@@the-Backyard-Naturalist 👍👍👍

[@adventure_onthedaily9851]

‘Their customer-facing parts’ had me cackling

[@footyanimator]

I can honestly say that these videos are the best thing I’ve found on KZbin

[@jess53nz]

Omg dude, cackled at "sorry bro" 🇳🇿❤️🇦🇺

[@64Pete]

My lori is my best mate. Except when he isn't. He's an excellent mimic, I'm training him to whistle the Italian national anthem. He makes me laugh so much he has copied my laugh perfectly. He also swears like a fkn sailor.

[@AV-sl9wg]

The lori our son and daughter in law has likes to copy the tune of the Mexican hat dance.

[@colinross6259]

Had a backyard with a gum and bottlebrush tree. The normally bully noisy minors went quiet and moved away when the Loris come to town. Thanks for another insight to a great Aussie bird.

[@TheAbeKane]

Another fun vid bro. There's a local Lori flock of 50 odd, that fly over my house every afternoon. When the setting sun hits them their colours come alive and it's so beautiful to watch...bit bloody noisy though lol

[@ectoplasmicz]

Yesssss rainbows lets go! My best friend is a rescue rainbow, evil loud abusive angel and i love her.

[@Centurion13]

Fuck yeah Lorikeets.

[@peg7973]

Also, with the seed feeding, it eventually wears down the little bristles on their tongue which is essential for their necatarious lifestyle. So just thought I'd pop that in. I had a rescue lorrie. She had a bed tent on top of her cage. When she was ready for bed she would wait at the entrance for me to come and make sure she was tucked in. Then she would lay down and go to sleep all night until her outside gang came early again the next morning. I miss you Groggy xx

[@EikoandMog]

My dad and I used to feed a pair slices of apples when they kept coming around. Only used to feed them if we were home and they'd only really show up when it rained. Ended up being cool enough with us to jump on my shoulder and we'd always see their babies.

[@murkrowo]

We get hoards of these guys in spring down where I live, always a joy to see them :)

[@splanting]

that's so true they do brighten up my morning on the way to work, I always see a flock hiding in a neighbour's camellia hedge

[@uqnlenno]

Love your videos and sense of humour. Thanks

[@ByHerHand]

No ending of you sitting on a log, chucking a spready? That was the best bit! 😉

[@pulsecodemodulated]

I never wanted a bird, but then my housemate rescued a baby disco chicken while working on a building site in Melbourne. Pure adorable chaos.

[@hadgeron9556]

I’ve seen rainbow lorikeets fight everything from king parrots to even sulphur crested cockatoos, they have short bird syndrome and will fight things many times their size, or screech loudly at them I guess

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Yep. Pale-headed and Crimson Rosellas, King Parrots, Galahs, Scaly-Brested Lories, Cockies, Crested Pigeons and Diamond Doves all bow down at the feeder to these little Bonapartes. You pretty well have to take a tennis racquet to the Rainbow Regiments to give everybody a fair crack of the whip.

[@Peleski]

Rainbow Lorikeets are a recurring symbol used in the Sydney G&L Mardi Gras (go figure). Yes they may be pesky, but they really brighten up your day when you see one. I can attest that I never saw any in Sydney until the 80s. There was a big fire in the National Park and the birds flew into the city. I'm glad we planted so many nectar natives (less happy about the Noisy Miners though, and no more sparrows).

[@stephengodfrey5644]

Hello i live in Broome North Western Australia and as summer approaches every year and the fruit of the mango trees ripen you find lorikeets chattering in the mango trees.

[@dafalzonAUS]

When I was a kid in the eighties in Melbourne, the only time I saw a lorikeet was in QLD tourist brochure’s, we moved to QLD and got to see many of them, in 06 moved back to Melbourne and too my surprise here they were living in Melbourne, I guess it was the trees as you mentioned, I thought it was the weather!

[@Fitzroyfallz]

‘One bedroom unit with waterboarding facilities’ omg that was hilarious! But for real this was really interesting, I had no idea how lorikeets became so prolific! I will add though that feeding lorikeets is okay as long as you give them the right food (nectivore mix can be bought at some pet stores), and you clean their feeding bowls daily. However planting natives will always be best by a mile! It gives them a place they feel comfortable too and attracts other species of birds

[@theSam91]

They are the star attraction since I put a bird bath in the front yard. Their behaviour and interactions with each other is so hilariously funny to watch.

[@superbettynow]

'Sky high tie-dies' - beautiful!

[@harryp6997]

Umbrella tree nectar gets them drunk. I know it's probably not good for them, but drunken lorikeet brawls are hilarious.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

They used to get into the nectar from the trees outside the Cairns Council Offices in the city when we used to holiday at the beaches many moons ago. And yep, it was a toss-up between the Palm Cove Lifesavers and the Boids as to who had the best drunken parties.

[@grahamogorman7831]

I love Rainbow Lorikeats. Had 200 walking n climbing on me daily n eating out of hand. Have seen them SMASH Kurrawongs

[@MozillaVulpix]

I love your sense of humour in these videos.

[@pollyparrot9447]

Their camouflage power amazes me considering how colourful they are. I've heard a dozen of them screeching in a eucalypt without being able to spot one unless it flies away from the tree for a bit.

[@Matterhorn3808]

My weirdo lori is 17 this year he's an odd animal still rolls around on his back in my hand and plays like a kitten, definitely not a pet to have if you don't know how to discipline them. They're wild ones where I live now too since the bushfires, don't make anywhere near as much noise as cockatoo's

[@UncleJoeLITE]

My local lorikeets came daily for their [hand feeding] at Surfers [table cleaned daily]. Here in Canberra we have more cockatoos & galahs. The feeding hierarchy in Surfers was 1. Lorikeets, 2. Wattle birds, 3. Noisy Miners, 4. the Peewee lol.

[@Fitzroyfallz]

‘One bedroom unit with waterboarding facilities’ omg that was hilarious! But for real this was really interesting, I had no idea how lorikeets became so prolific!

[@kchsc]

the OneyPlays reference was a nice touch

[@shannonpincombe8485]

Their plummage looks amazing under black light. Most birda and flowers ahve a difderent colour when on Ultra Violet and Infra Red. Insects, in particular, see the world so differently from us. I wish had tetrachromatic vision. That would be wild!! Damn fine video pal.

[@daverei1211]

They are the F18’s of bird world, rocketing through the neighbourhood.

[@katem3961]

Hi from Perth Western Australia, aka Alaska 🤣 Absolutely love your vids ❤ I have a lot of birds visiting my yard but only see the lorikeets flying overhead and in the park behind my house in very small numbers. Though we do have a real issue with corellas in our area. Boy, are these guys super noisy and can be destructive! They fly over every morning and evening in huge numbers as they tend to congregate at the nearby Jandakot airport, causing havoc I would imagine due to the huge flock sizes and small aircraft. I love the 28, Ringneck, but have not seen any near my suburb of Perth. Great information presented with very clever wit. Keep up the fabulous content. Thank you 💗

[@lyallfurphy]

They’re an introduced invasive species in Perth and responsible for displacing Twenty Eights :’(

[@DangerAngelous]

I meet one up close in a tree the other week, very kindly let me take really close up pictures of him!

[@_Jade_Stone]

🦜 thank you 🙏🏼

[@romeoC9968]

Some of these birds called our fig tree home for the past 10 years, and last year when it didn't produce any fruit they discovered our plum tree....if they ate the hole fruit we wouldn't mind but one or two bites was enough from each....hundreds of fruit wasted.....and the nets never stopped them. We had to get rid of the fig tree a few weeks ago, they've moved to the tree opposite our house but they scream every morning, almost sounding angry they we had to get rid of the tree.

[@Peleski]

ugh, what pesky birds.... I can't imagine what fruit growers have to do

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@Peleski A sheep dip fruit salad usually restores the local natural balance. Just drop it in the local EnviroWarrior's garden and make sure that you add your name to the subsequent Petition to the Government for a Royal Commission. 😱

[@GrahamkellasRoss]

Really entertaining and informative ....10/10.

[@NewFalconerRecords]

Beautiful mongrels.

[@juanitaschlink2028]

Man, love your vids. I live in Sydney and am familiar with most of the animals you spotlight, but always manage to learn something from you. Keep it up you little legend. Xx

[@abbeycat6425]

The alarm clock of late winter. When our bottle brush flowers, which is just outside our bedroom window here in Melbourne, it attracts the lorikeets and the noisy miners. They squabble continuously. The noisy miners are recent addition to our garden and they’ve chased away the wattle birds which is a bit sad. But they chase the cat which is quite amusing. We always know when the cat is coming up the path and about to enter the building because of the noise! We also have an apple tree that the lorikeets have invaded. They half eat an apple then move onto the next one. I don’t mind though. They are full of character.

[@RobRoam]

That was awesome!

[@SOUTHAUSSIEGUY]

Love these guys on my block in the Adelaide Hills _ P.S, that beer with the pie floater should be a South Aussie Coopers Ale!

[@jonnowood8382]

I subbed purely because you said they were rarer than eshay with a valid train ticket. Gold!

[@devilisdutch]

The puns and analogies are excellent and genuinely informative. I love these, please keep it up.

[@JohnGardnerAlhadis]

"Botched Warhammer paint job" was absolutely on-point. 👌

[@NicolasEricson-hf3rf]

Love your commentary bro. Super descriptive ,👍

[@ashleysmith3106]

Just come in from watering my garden under a cacophony of NOISE from the blooming Lillli Pilli next door, full of Rainbows !

[@garrywatters1140]

In the NT there is a variety called the red collared lorikeet.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

There is a gradation of colours over their range. A bit like in Sydney from Elizabeth Bay over to the Western Suburbs. 🤔😈

[@scruncheduppaper4828]

oh god, rainbow lorikeets are sooo loud. in certain urban places there will be only a couple of gum trees where they gather and even standing NEAR THEM is enough to make your ears hurt. you can't even see any of them because they camoflage so well, even though judging by the sound of it there must be hundreds! love these birds though, they're very sociable and don't seem to be as scared of people as some others are.

[@chiaroscuroamore]

The combo of dry humour and information is perfect!! Keep up the good work!

[@clayalbatross496]

When it comes to their status in New Zealand, Rainbow Lorikeets did indeed establish a population here, namely in Auckland if I remember correctly. The population was unfortunately exterminated though, which is due to legit worry that they could have become yet another invasive species to add to the list, and that they were seen as likely vectors of certain parrot specific diseases that could threaten our native parrots. As lovely as lorikeets are, it is perhaps for the best that they never establish here (though it would be awesome if we had a native lorikeet!). Eastern Rosellas are a widespread introduced species in NZ's North Island though, and also have a separate population around the city of Dunedin in the South Island. The classic Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo also has some feral populations here and there in NZ, plus Galahs have feral populations on some of the islands near-ish to Auckland.

[@mollyeverglade3655]

I absolutely love our continent's gaggle of feathered chaos demons and the Rainbow Lorikeet is no exception. I actually like waking up to their cacophony in the morning.

[@andyh3065]

Awesome content, so many colloquialisms 😂. I wonder how much someone from OS would understand? Love it!

[@AzureRei]

I love how informative and entertaining your videos are! Always a good day when a new video drops.

[@ulrikezachmann7596]

Thanks for that. Things I didn’t know. I have some that come to my window because I feed some back yard buddies. I mixture of all types. These Loris are very bossy and let me know when the feed has run out with loud screeches. I make a special mixture with fruit, vegetables and assorted grains as well as rice. Mostly the Currawongs, Australian Minor and Pigeons eat it as well as Crows and other species. They all seem to be healthy. Though the Pigeons who would eat anything tend to be the ones that become unwell with disease. The beak and feather disease is apparent in Sydney Cockatoos and some Corella’s. Very sad that. So feeding platforms are a no. A table could be a platform so hygiene is very important just like your own kitchen.

[@RAAFtiger]

Love the use of Zachs scream hahaha

[@johnnyojohnny]

I've experienced a few wild lorikeets with the paralysis syndrome, usually on the first day of encountering them they are unable to properly fly anymore, can tell something is wrong when approaching the lorikeet because it can only either hop away on the ground like a kangaroo or it starts to try and climb up a nearby tree. On first day they still have some strength to fight back but by 2nd day their health has deteriorated rapidly not able to move much and eyes keep closing like they are sleeping. The ones I've met with the condition don't live much more then a few days to a week at most but they would of likely caught this sickness a long while before, and since the lorikeets try not to show their illness it's hard to spot the sick ones until it's too late. I notice some wild lorikeets that close their eyes in same way, it's not a sleeping type, cause when they close their eyes they still twitch and not relaxed. The Lorikeet group will isolate and avoid this sick one, maybe this is early symptoms to the sickness

[@blakearius]

I crashed my car leaving the handbreak off last month trying to save a lorikeet stuck in the middle of the road, couldn't fly away. It's nice to get an answer for why it couldn't get away.

[@ianking-jv4hg]

Lorries love getting drunk. Dew and rain collects in the throat of some flowers and ferments the nectar and you can see these crazy little bastards getting pissed and arguing the point with each other. i love 'em

[@continental_drift]

I came here say just what you said but I didn't know the mechanism, thanks.

[@mattmaria2226]

Coor mate.. yous forgot to add they're pissheads and can be found blacked out in your local park after down'n a few steamy fermented dates.. not an unknown practice amoung the more colourful crowd.. especially in some of the inner city parks😊

[@jasone830]

How could you omit that just like they typical Aussie, they get drunk off fermented fruit! What a missed opportunity! 😅🍹

[@paulp5775]

Every year I bird proof my fruit trees, every year they get in ! If I ever want to break into a bank safe, I will employ them to do it !

[@madmadimadison7542]

Best one yet! And informative! I'm defs not gonna build that bird feeder now 😱

[@elizabeth10392]

They're beautiful and I love them They visit my garden often. I think they're delightful 😁

[@PistachioDean]

I was interested in the evolution of their colouring, and apparently it's a form of "mosaic evolution." Their colouring evolved at different points and independently of each other. So the green is for camouflage (I think this is their OG colour), and the other colours help identify their species amongst other lorikeets. Some of their colours are invisible to humans, and all their markings make up 1/3 of colours birds can see.

[@flamingfrancis]

We have two families, up to six birds, that drop in from nearby bushlands...they are all feisty little buggars who take no sh1t from much larger species like Kookas, Maggies and Sulphur Cresteds, all of which also regularly drop in. It is amazing to listen to the chatter between them when they are bouncing around looking for food, it never stops.

[@DuringDark]

6:30 for anyone concerned the paralysis syndrome isn't terminal, I teared up on the first watch seeing some snuggled up "smiley" little guys who may never fly or see their partner again

[@evelynharber6077]

Thank you for this information. I don't have any native lorry's around my area but are aware that they are that far away, in a another suburb and only a flight away. They are very pretty but as you say aggressive and somewhat territorial.

[@mattmatty4670]

Cool thanks mate

[@einfelder8262]

There is a massive flowering gum tree in the street near my bedroom window. Usually every May the 5am 120db screeching of a thousand lorikeets wakes me too early. So far this year have only seen the advance scouting pairs searching for which tree is their next food supply. The tree is not flowering yet. Melbourne East.

[@the-Backyard-Naturalist]

Theory confirmed

[@tinandglass]

Eucalyptus. In large part, the same reason (humans altering the landscape) why Anna's Hummingbird slowly migrated north from California, and eventually overwintered in British Columbia.

[@Darkinu2]

We had some perch on our old house's balcony and we called them Heckle and Jeckle, no idea why~

[@kengoold7157]

love your channel mate. great work

[@JamesLilzz]

Keep up the great work! Love your videos and sense of humour. Amazing that you have a platform to promote Australian Natives ❤️ sugar gliders next please

[@Freezer94]

Good timing posting this video, it's now too dark to see birds from my window and I was missing them. This will comfort me for a few more minutes.

[@kathyw3466]

I live on the the Northern Rivers NSW where we used to have 1000's of these beautiful noisy birds. The last couple of years a disease has wiped most of them out. Slowly they are making a recovery. Funniest thing when they get drunk on the Bottle Brush tree.