About Psitteuteles versicolor (Lear, 1831)
The varied lorikeet, scientifically named Psitteuteles versicolor (Lear, 1831), reaches about 19 centimetres (7.5 in) in total length. Its plumage is mainly green, marked with short yellow longitudinal streaks; fine yellow streaking and a broad orbital patch are the species' distinctive features. The lores, forehead, and crown are red, the beak is red, the bare eye-rings are white, the lores are bare, and the irises are orange-yellow. The upper breast is mauve, with additional longitudinal yellow streaks, and the legs are bluish-grey. Females have less extensive red coloring on the head, and their breast plumage is duller than that of males. Juveniles are much duller overall, and are mainly green, with an orange forehead, pale-brown irises, and a brown beak that is orange at its base. This species has a swift, direct flight, and its contact call is a distinct, shrill screech. It gives this call constantly while flying, so flocks are often heard before they are seen. The varied lorikeet is a blossom nomad. It inhabits tropical eucalypt forests, wetlands, and grassland areas in northern Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. Its range extends from Broome in Western Australia across into the Gulf region of the Northern Territory, south to Mount Isa, and north to the Jardine River in Queensland.
