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Rainbow Lorikeets grow to 25-30 cm (9.8-11.8 in) in size, with a wingspan of about 17 cm (6.7 in). Their eponymous markings are particularly striking: a dark blue or violet-blue head and stomach, a bright green back, tail and vent, and a orange breast and beak. 

They feed mainly on pollen and nectar, and possess a tongue adapted especially for their particular diet. The end of the tongue is equipped with a papillate appendage adapted to collecting nectar from flowers. They are also frequent visitors at bird feeders that supply lorikeet-friendly treats, such as store-bought nectar, sunflower seeds, and fruits such as apples, grapes and pears.

In Australia, breeding usually occurs during spring (September to December), and mated pairs typically nest in eucalypt tree hollows.