Blue-Bellied Parrakeet

First Capture May 1770 Tupaia caught a rainbow lorikeet and took it abroad Cook’s Endeavour as a pet. It survived, outliving it’s owner who died on 26th December, 1770.

First description 3rd November 1774 This bird was brought over by Joseph Banks. Botany Bay Peter Brown. Sighting by First Fleeters April 1788 We likewise saw several Blue-Bellied Parrot. This is a very beautiful bird and is very common species in various parts of New Holland and in great plenty both at Botany Bay and Port Jackson. Port Jackson John White.

Modern common names Rainbow Lorikeet, Coconut Lory, Red-collared Lorikeet, Blue-bellied Lorikeet, Blue Mountain Lorikeet.

Modern binomial name Trichoglossus haematodus

First described Linnaeus 1771

Distribution Australia wide

Reference Reader’s Digest Book of Birds 2nd ed 1986 Page: 286, ill.286

From George Shaw’s, General Zoology or Systematic Natural History.