Avian Medicine:
Basic Information Sheet for the Lory and Lorikeet

• Natural history
• Taxonomy
• Species
• Physical description
• Diet
• Husbandry
• Behavior
• Normal physiologic values
• Anatomy/physiology
• Restraint
• Venipuncture
• Preventive medicine
• Injections
• Important medical conditions
• References

Lories and lorikeets live in large flocks in the wild.  Depending on the species, lories and lorikeets originate from the southeast Asia archipelago or parts of Australia.  These birds will fly from island to island in search of food. Lories and lorikeets will eat coconuts and grapes and they are considered a pest to farmers.  The nomadic Rainbow lorikeet follows eucalyptus flowers blooming along the Australian coast. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the conservation status of most lories and lorikeets as “least concern”, although some species are considered vulnerable or “near threatened”. The Red-and-blue lory (Eos histrio), Rimitara lorikeet (Vini kuhlii), and Ultramarine lorikeet (Vini ultramarina) are endangered.

Two common pet lories below are listed.

Eos bornea – Red lory
Trichoglossus haematodus haematodus – Rainbow or Green-naped lorikeet

There are 12 genera of lories and lorikeets with 56 species and numerous subspecies. The most common as a pet is the Red Lory.

• Lorikeets have a longer, more slender tail and are smaller compared to the short, blunt tail of the larger lories.
• Plumage color varies with the species and ranges from red, blue, yellow, green, violet and olive brown.
• The popular Rainbow Lory has a yellow collar with blue crown, cheeks and forehead as well as a red chest barred with black and thighs yellow barred with green.
• Lories and lorikeets are sexually monomorphic.

• Lories and lorikeets are nectarivores that feed on pollen, nectar, flowers, soft fruits, and insects. This diet creates watery droppings making lories and lorikeets better suited for aviary life.
• Companion lories and lorikeets must be provided with sufficient water. Change food often to prevent spoilage.
• Grit is not necessary but lories and lorikeets will eat it. In fact, some individuals will overeat grit when ill putting them at risk for impaction.

• Provide daily baths or showers.
• Perch diameter should range from 3/8 to ¾ in (0.95-1.9 cm) depending on the size of the bird. Sand paper perch covers are very abrasive to the feet, and are not recommended.
• Great at escaping their cage. Make sure cage doors are locked.

• Lories and lorikeets are intelligent and quite playful. They can learn words and tricks quite easily.
• They can be better suited as lively aviary birds, however they are territorial and do not get along with other bird species.
• Rainbow lories may sleep on their backs.
• Foraging is an important part of normal daily parrot activity. Teach and encourage pet birds to play and forage.

• Brush-like, papillae-tipped tongues allow lories and lorikeets to eat nectar and pollen.
• These nectarivores possess weakly muscled crop, proventriculus, and ventriculus or gizzard.
• Anatomic traits of Order Psittaciformes include:
  • Communication of the right and left nasal sinus
  • Simply syrinx
  • Craniofacial hinge of beak is a synovial joint
  • Ceca absent
  • Gall bladder often absent
  • Zygodactyl foot: two toes pointed backward and two pointed forward

Restrain lories and lorikeets by holding the head between the index and middle fingers. Support the body with the palm of the hand as well as the thumb and little finger.

Use a 25-gauge needle and 1 to 3-mL syringe to draw blood from the right jugular vein. Collection of up to 1% of body weight is acceptable in healthy patients.

• Obtain a complete history and perform a thorough annual physical examination.
• Establish baseline data with regular clinical testing (complete blood count, protein electrophoresis, and plasma biochemistries.
• Ensure proper nutrition and husbandry.
• Recommend quarantine of newly acquired birds.
• Perform additional testing for select diseases based on history and physical exam findings: avian polyoma virus, psittacosis.
• Use of the equine West Nile virus vaccine may be associated with hemolytic anemia in lories.
• Birds housed in large groups or aviaries are at higher risk of Pacheco’s disease virus and use of the vaccine may be indicated.
• The avian polyoma virus vaccine is recommended for breeding populations.

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Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Appendices I, II, and III. Valid from Apr 27, 2011. Available at: http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php. Accessed June 8, 2011.

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IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. IUCN Red List Web site. 2010. Available at http://www.iucnredlist.org/. Accessed June 12, 2011.

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Lafeber Company. Other Birds. LafeberCares Web site. Available at: http://www.lafebercares.com/knowledge/birds/other.html. Accessed May 16, 2011.

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Morgan D. Bird Care. Neptune City, NJ: TFH Publications; 2005. Pp. 15-16, 17-18.

O’Malley B. Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of Exotic Species. Edinburgh: Elsevier Saunders; 2005. Pp. 156-157.

Tully TN. Birds. In: Mitchell M, Tully TN (eds). Manual of Exotic Pet Practice. St. Louis, MO: Saunders; 2008. Pp. 270-271, 276.

Tully TN, Lawton MPC, Dorrestein GM. Avian Medicine. Oxford; Butterworth-Heinemann; 2000. Pp. 26-34, 43-51.

Zoological Society of San Diego, Birds: Lory and lorikeet. 2011. San Diego Zoo. Available at: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-lorikeet.html. Accessed May 20, 2011.