Goldie’s Lorikeet

Goldie’s Lorikeet

Description

The Goldie's lorikeet (Psitteuteles goldiei) is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is found in forest and woodland in New Guinea, primarily at altitudes of 1000–2200 m.a.s.l. It is mostly green with yellowish streaks in the chest area, and a red, blue and purple head. It is said[who?] to resemble a watermelon in appearance. It is a small bird measuring 19 cm (7 ½ in) in length and weighing 45-60 grams.

Goldie's lorikeet is 19 cm (7.5 in) long. It is mainly green, and its underside is yellow-green with dark green longitudinal streaks. It has a red plumage on the crown, which is less extensive in the female. The back of its head is blue, its cheeks are mainly mauve and blue, its beak is black, and its irises are brown. Its legs are greenish-brown. In juveniles the red on the head is reduced to a small red patch above its beak. Juveniles have a brown beak, a green crown, and greyish-blue plumage on the back of the head.

Scientific Name

Psitteuteles Goldiei

Country Of Origin

 

New Guinea

Size

 

7.5 inches

Life Expectancy

 

20 years

Noise Level

Low

Talk / Trick Ability

Moderate, but not as chatty as other lories.

Characteristics

The Goldie’s lorikeet has a calm demeanor, which makes it less high-maintenance than other lories. Goldie’s lorikeets make good pet birds because they are calm and content with staying perched where they remain less hyper than other lory species. The Goldie’s lorikeet is very curious, so supervise playtime and be sure their cage bars have appropriate spacing.

 

Behavior / Health Concerns

Goldie’s Lorikeets are susceptible to hemochromatosis or iron-storage disease. They need nectar as the base of their diet. The nectar or powder diet should be low iron. Fresh fruits are also good foods to add to the nectar and/or powder bird diet.