Musk lorikeets: Size, colour, diet and geographical spread
A musk lorikeet is a green bird with a red forehead. You’ll often see them in the outer suburbs of big cities west of Australia’s Great Dividing Range.
A musk lorikeet is one of several unusual birds endemic to Australia. They’re also one of the birds you are more likely to see in big cities such as Sydney or Melbourne, albeit usually in the outer urban areas. The musk lorikeet has shown a high degree of adaptability since European settlement in Australia.
How big are musk lorikeets?
The musk lorikeet is a reasonably small bird, usually about 22cm long. They’re pretty easy to spot, however, as they have mainly green bodies, with distinctive markings elsewhere. There’s a yellow band on the wing, while the forehead is red and the crown is blue.
What do musk lorikeets eat?
Musk lorikeets have a reasonably varied diet. They eat several fruits, although they’ve got a particular taste for the nectar of the Grevillea plant. These plants are found in greater concentrations in the outer urban areas, hence you rarely see musk lorikeets in the city centres. If you do see a colourful bird in an inner urban area, it’s likely to be the musk lorikeet’s cousin – the rainbow lorikeet.
Where do musk lorikeets live?
Musk lorikeets generally inhabit the south-eastern corner of Australia. There are some in Tasmania, but they are relatively uncommon there. It’s also rare to spot these Australian birds west of the Great Dividing Range.
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