Lorikeets.
“Parrots are known for their bright colors, and some of the most colorful members of the parrot family are lories and lorikeets. Also known as honeyeaters, the many species of this parrot group (subfamily Loriinae) can be found throughout the islands of the South Pacific and Australia. In general, lories are bigger with tails that are short, rounded, or square. Lorikeets tend to be smaller with longer, pointed tails. Most lories are red with patches of yellow, purple, and green; most lorikeets are green with patches of red and yellow. There are, of course, exceptions, and these birds can be found in all the colors of the rainbow.
“They are social birds and usually travel about from tree to tree in large, squawking flocks in search of flowers and nectar, chattering excitedly as they feed. The flocks sometimes have thousands of birds and blanket the whole sky. Some species, such as the rainbow lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus, are nomadic and follow the flowering season of the eucalyptus trees up and down the coast of Australia,” (San Diego Zoo).
(photo courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific on Facebook.)
