Find out more about the Goldies Lorikeet.

As they are a similar size to a Quaker, find everything you need for them here.

Scientific name:

Trichoglossus goldiei (but almost certainly should not be classified in the genus Trichoglossus).

Adult length:

19cm (7½ in)

Adult weight:

53-58g (males heavier).

Potential lifespan:

20-25 years

Sexing:

The male has a larger head and beak and slightly more extensive red on the forehead and more obvious violet on the face.

Status in wild:

Not threatened — common in some areas.

Origin:

New Guinea in the central mountain ranges up to 8,500ft.

Status in Aviculture:

Available; numbers in UK possibly stable. During the 1970s, when Goldie’s first became available, many Parrot species were imported that previously were virtually unknown in aviculture.

While importations continued and some breeding successes occurred, they were popular and easily acquired. But their numbers gradually, almost imperceptibly, declined until, at the end of the 1990s, people were asking: “Whatever happened to…?” Goldie’s Lorikeet fell into this category. There has been a slight revival.

Appeal:

Pretty and diminutive with a gentle and pleasing personality. They are slender, graceful and streamlined, with a mid-length tapering tail. Creeping around in a stealthy manner, they are quite unlike the boisterous lorikeets of the genus Trichoglossus.

Vocalisations:

Goldie’s make quiet warbling sounds which are very attractive. The louder call note is rarely heard and would not offend any ear. It is most likely to be heard when chicks are in the nest and the male is demanding more green food!

Suitability for breeders:

An ideal avicultural subject because it is small, quiet, and a reliable breeder where free of disturbances. They can be quite sensitive to unusual occurrences — more so than other lorikeets, in my experience.

Inspection of the nest should be carried out regularly before eggs are made to accustom them to this.

Inspection must be possible without taking down the nest-box and preferably in a non-invasive manner, i.e. with the nest-box on the outside of a cage or from a door in the service passage. It is advisable to avoid inspecting the nest when there are new laid eggs or newly-hatched chicks.

Goldie’s will nest in a cage or aviary, indoors or outdoors. However, in winter they need to be in a bird room or in an aviary with heated indoor quarters. It is very important to have enough heat to stop the nectar from freezing.

Choose from lots of great cages here.

While this is true of all nectar-feeding birds, A Goldies Lorikeet is so small that they would soon show signs of stress if unable to feed for even a short while.

Breeding:

Sexually mature by two years of age. Clutch consists of two eggs which are incubated for about 23 days.

Young spend seven and a half to eight weeks in the nest. They can be ringed at about 14 days with size N (5.35mm).

It is not unusual for chicks to be plucked in the nest but they feather up quickly after fledging.

The likelihood of plucking of a Goldies Lorikeet is increased if the nest becomes damp.

The nest litter needs to be changed every two days, preferably avoiding handling the chicks — just removing and replacing the wood shavings around them.

Diet:

Nectar is the most important item. I recommend Nekton Lori or Lori CeDe with honey and malt extract added. There are some poorly formulated lory foods (in powder form) on the market on which Goldie’s will not thrive. Lori food is available here.

Green food is eaten more eagerly than by many Lorikeets. Pollen-filled blossoms such as dandelion and hibiscus, also chickweed and seeding dock, are greatly enjoyed and especially sought when chicks are in the nest.

The golden flowering heads of smooth hawk’s beard (Crepis capillaris) from my garden are accepted when dandelion flowering had temporarily halted and although hawk’s beard contains less pollen, the flowers are eagerly accepted.

Seeding grasses, also oats and canary seed in the green stage, which are easy to grow in pots, are greatly enjoyed and spray millet is relished. Apple, pear and grapes, also soaked sultanas, are also eaten but might be ignored on some days.