Lories and Lorikeets

parrots · nectar-feeders · tropical birds · bright colors

Brush-tipped tongues. Lories and lorikeets have a superpower other parrots don't have: their tongues are covered in tiny brush-like tips that help them slurp up nectar from flowers, like living straws.

Rainbow feathers. These parrots are famous for their incredibly bright and colorful plumage, with reds, greens, blues, and yellows splashed across their bodies like living paintings.

Pacific travelers. You'll find lories and lorikeets living wild across Australia, Papua New Guinea, islands throughout the Pacific, and parts of southeast Asia, mostly in tropical forests and woodlands.

Berry lovers. While nectar from flowers is their favorite meal, they also love munching on soft berries and fruits when they can find them in the trees.

Parrot cousins. Scientists used to think lories and lorikeets were so different from other parrots that they deserved their own special group, but new research shows they fit right in the middle of the parrot family tree.