Little Lorikeet

1. Vivid red face mask contrasting with bright green body

2. Noticeably smaller than other lorikeets-about half the size of a Rainbow Lorikeet

3. Short, high-pitched “tslit!” or “zit-zit” calls, often heard before the bird is seen

Little Lorikeets are highly social and usually seen in small flocks, sometimes joining larger gatherings with Musk or Rainbow Lorikeets. Their brush-tipped tongues are specialized for feeding on nectar and pollen, though they also occasionally eat native fruits like mistletoe and rarely visit orchards. Breeding typically occurs from June to January, but may start as early as May and continue into spring, depending on flowering and food availability. They nest in hollows of living eucalypts, usually high above ground and close to feeding areas, laying three to five eggs per clutch. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge about six weeks after hatching`.`

Little Lorikeets are found along the east and southeast of Australia, from far north Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, and into southeastern South Australia and Tasmania (where they are uncommon). They prefer open eucalypt woodlands and forests, especially near water, and are often seen in riparian habitats or anywhere flowering trees are abundant. These birds are nomadic, following the flowering of eucalypts, melaleucas, and other nectar-rich trees, and may appear in large numbers when food is plentiful. Look for them in the canopy, where their constant movement and excited chatter can give away their presence.