Lorikeet Hybrid

April 17, 2016

it's a hybrid, between a rainbow and something else.

Chlidonias said:

it's a hybrid, between a rainbow and something else.

Click to expand...

Thank you! I figured that it was a hybrid of some sort, but I wanted to see if anyone might be able to tell between which species it is a hybrid. My searches online were rather unfruitful... The closest I could find in general coloration was the Edward's, but I could not find any photos of a hybrid with a similar head coloration.

what other species do they have there (especially in that aviary)? It was probably bred at the zoo.

I overheard an aviary attendant mention that there were eight species/sub-species of lorikeets in the aviary, but, unfortunately, there was no signage in the aviary to specify. The zoo was incredibly busy, so I was unable to ask her myself. That said, these are the (sub)species that I personally saw:
-Swainson's
-Green-naped
-Red-collared
-Rosenberg's
-Olive-headed
-Ornate
-Goldie's
The eighth eluded me.

When I saw the picture I directly thought it looked somehow Ornatish so I'm quite sure one of the parent-birds is an Ornate lorikeet.

I agree with ornateish but with the red front and purple cheeks I would also ad goldiish, if possible with such a small lorikeet to a rainbow or a ornate. It could be a three-way cross. The genetics are interesting.