Yesterday afternoon a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets landed on my window sill. I proceeded to chat to them and present the fresh water bowl I have there for such visits. To my surprise another somewhat different lorikeet flew up to have a look at what was going on. He was a different colour to the others with a turquoise head mostly green with a yellow and orange chest. Still definitely of rainbow stock but maybe crossbred with a musk lorikeet (there were a lot around nearby this area last season which ties in with the percieved age of this mature but youngish bird)
He wasn't overly popular with the obviously paired duo but he wasn't being completely disuaded and watched from a safe distance coming closer and closer to have a look. The pair continued to chat with me and refresh themselves on a couple of grapes and the water. I managed to get a few pics of him on the outer sill. Anyway the duo decided to go and they all flew off together.
This morning a pair turned up again, then after about five minutes a group of about 10 turned up including the Beautiful Mutant. All were very wary but curious. I went to get my camera but the subject had fled but most of the others were still around for a few minutes befoer themselves setting off to go about their dailly routines.
I strongly suspect this is a hybrid with a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, I've seen some very similar ones in Melbourne.
May be but I haven't seen a scaly breasted parrot anywhere near this area. The closest I have seen would have been on the central coast probably 100km from here. When there were heaps of turquise headed Muskies around with the rainbows last year. Seems more likely. May just be a mutation anyway.
looks pretty close to me, compare to these
http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/hybrid-lorikeets.html
http://birding-aus.org/hybrid-lorikeet-4/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/s_glenum/5305566766/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/95226300@N06/14900557626
https://www.flickr.com/photos/craigjewell/11055631103/
could also be a naturalised escapee...
I agree with richman, scaly breasted lorikeets do not have turquoise heads. and also if he hasn't seen any near.
William.S
I see it as Light blue head present = dilute rainbow head due to scaly influence.
also FWIW Scalys sometimes do have a subtle bluish tone to the head.
I don't subscribe to the rationale that if you haven't seen one near it's unlikely to be it. Birds do show up in unexpected places both as wild vagrants and aviary escapees. the scalies in melbourne are well out of range, established from aviary escapees ostensibly (however i seem to recall early reports of the species extending further inland along the Murray than in contemporary times in N vic and I believe natural vagrants have occurred in E Gippsland as they do range down to S NSW. In Melbourne the Scaly-breasteds are mainly hybrids with Rainbows presumably due to lack of available mates you're hard-pressed to find a pureblood, most look much like the bird in the original post.
Also this particular cross seems to be prevalent in aviculture to instill new mutations.
rainbow x musks usually have red on the face from what i've seen though it may not be diagnotic. I'm not going to say it is a Scaly x rainbow, only it was my initial suspicion. In Vic you can find hybrids of all three species in one bird and even apparent hybrids of up to 5 species in one with the former plus purple-crowned and littles.
It could be some pale Rainbow mutation. i doubt you could know without expert breeder's opinion or dna analysis.
here are some links:
http://jenniferspryausbirding.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/a-mess-of-lorikeets-3rd-june.html
http://www.peterfuller.com.au/birds/essays/lorikeets/lorikeets.html
Thanks everyone but I have seen many many links. I don't really care what he is and it is all supposition unless you get full testing done. (That is something I would not put a wild bird through for any money.)
I just hope he hangs around and makes a go of it. I know it can be a hard road for creatures who are different than the norm but I found it encouraging that he was with a decent group of rainbows. If he is an escapee he should be able to see what everyone else is eating and follow suit. maybe he will breed and we will get other beauties around.
I remember seeing a full blue one on a previous forum entry and a milllion other variations on the web before I even posted this one.
I think the blue one was a natural mutation not an escapee as the blue form of Scaly-breasted Lorikeet was (is?) extremely rare in aviculture, probably worth a small fortune to interested parties.
Yeah there's heaps of lorikeet mutations and hybrids in captivity, I think I actually prefer the originals though finding these curiosities like your bird out in the wild can be pretty special.
I thought I would update this post as I have seen a lot more of the little guy and he now seems to have a mate. (regular Rainbow) He pops up every second or third day and comes to the window to see if there is anything on offer. The local birds have been doing it tough with all this rain lately.
I have made further observations, He is smaller than an average Rainbow by 4-5 cm, his build is slighter, his tail is shorter and he has a higher pitched call. When he is stressed his call is a lot more like a musk lorikeet, (I cannot remember the scaly's call as I haven't seen one in about 5 years so I have no point of reference there) but to be more specific the trill part of his call is much faster and noticably different to the observant. I can tell his call apart when I am not in view.
To give a location reference for anyone who was wondering. I am in the middle of Sydney's Kings Cross area bordering Wooloomooloo. Not where you would expect to see a lot of birds but it is surprisingly more bird busy than I ever expected. The close proximity to Lady Macquaries Point, The Domain and Botanic Gardens probably helps.
nice looking bird keep me updated on his / her friend
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW