Common name: Scaly-breasted lorikeet
Scientific name: Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Even among that noisy, gregarious, riotously coloured tribe of little parrots known as lorikeets, the scaly stands out. That’s if you can actually spot one, as its mostly green feathers make it very hard to see as it chatters and forages among the leaves and flowers of its favoured eucalypts.
If you do catch sight of one, what distinguishes it from other lorikeets, besides its bright-red bill, are its green head and scalloped yellow breast feathers, which resemble scales.
Its call is a bit like that of a rainbow lorikeet — with which it often forms mixed flocks — only even higher in pitch. These mischievous birds emit a deafening screech as together they dart across the outer-suburban backyards of eastern Australia, often in a straight…
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Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue #14.1