Written by the Birdsville team | Last updated October 2026
The chattering lory is a bright red, clever and very vocal lory from Indonesia, and one of the best talkers in the lory family. This chattering lory care guide covers diet, housing, health and handling, so you know exactly what this lively bird needs. Birdsville has hand-raised chattering lories available from time to time at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney.
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Chattering Lory Quick Facts
Scientific name: Lorius garrulus
Other names: Yellow-backed lory (one subspecies)
Native range: North Maluku, Indonesia
Adult size: About 30cm
Lifespan: Commonly 15 years or more, with a recorded maximum of around 27 years
Diet: Nectar feeder (lorikeet nectar mix, fruit and vegetables)
Sexing: DNA or surgical sexing only
Experience level: Best for experienced bird keepers
Wild status: Vulnerable, mainly due to trapping for the cage-bird trade
About the Chattering Lory
The chattering lory is a forest parrot found only in North Maluku, Indonesia, where it lives in lowland and hill forests. In the wild it’s usually seen in pairs and is very noisy in flight (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattering_lory).
It grows to about 30cm long. It’s mostly red, with green wings and thighs, a yellow patch at the bend of the wing and an orange beak.
Chattering Lory Subspecies
There are three recognised subspecies:
Chattering lory (Lorius garrulus garrulus), which is red on the back.
Yellow-backed lory (Lorius garrulus flavopalliatus), which has a yellow patch on its back.
Morotai chattering lory (Lorius garrulus morotaianus), from Morotai Island.
All three need the same care.
Chattering Lories as Pets
Hand-raised chattering lories are large, playful, outgoing and at times mischievous. They have a clownish nature, love to be busy and often form strong bonds with their owners.
They’re highly intelligent and can be trained well. They’re one of the better talking species of lory, and clever escape artists too.
They also have a tougher side. Chattering lories can be aggressive and hard to handle for inexperienced keepers, and they’re loud. They suit experienced owners who can give them plenty of time and attention.
Housing Your Chattering Lory
Choose the largest cage you can afford, because chattering lories are active birds and one of the bigger lory species. The cage needs room for toys, several perches, food and water dishes, and enough space to climb and flap freely. Give your lory supervised time out of the cage every day.
Lories are messy eaters and spray nectar and fruit around. Place the cage on an easy-to-clean floor, and fit a cage tidy around the base to catch the mess (https://birdsville.net.au/cage_tidies/cage-tidies/).
Toys and Enrichment
Chattering lories love noisy toys such as bells, and things to climb such as rope and ladders. Give them plenty to chew, including fresh branches from eucalypts, bottlebrush, acacias or grevilleas. Wash all branches well before you put them in the cage. Our Natural Bird Toys have more chew-safe ideas (https://birdsville.net.au/natural-toys/).
Bringing Your New Chattering Lory Home
Keep your new lory in its own cage, away from other birds, so it can settle in. Allow at least 4 to 6 weeks before introducing it to any birds you already have. This quarantine period helps stop parasites or illness spreading.
Handle your new bird quietly and gently, and don’t overwhelm it in the first few weeks.
What Do Chattering Lories Eat?
Chattering lories are nectar feeders and can’t live on seed like most parrots. Their tongues end in a brush of very fine hairs called papillae, which collect nectar and pollen from flowers. In the wild, lories feed from the flowers of thousands of plant species.
Nectar Mix
Pet lories need a commercial nectar replacement, which comes as a powder in two main types.
Dry mix is fed as a powder. Your lory will drink more, so always provide plenty of fresh water. Our top pick, and our biggest seller for lories and lorikeets, is Birdsville Blends Lorikeet Dry (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-lorikeet-dry-1kg). It’s made for daily feeding and resists souring, which makes it ideal in hot Sydney summers. Every lory loves it, whether as an everyday food or a favourite treat.
Wet mix is made into a liquid with water. Your lory will drink less, but fresh water should still always be available. Wombaroo Lorikeet & Honeyeater Food (https://petsville.com.au/products/wombaroo-lorikeet-honeyeater-food-1-5kg) is a good wet option.
Feed young birds both wet and dry mix in separate dishes. Once settled, they can be weaned onto dry mix alone.
Fruit and Vegetables
Offer fresh fruit and vegetables every day. Spinach and silverbeet leaves are especially important for calcium, because the shape of a lory’s beak and tongue means it rarely uses a cuttlebone.
Treats
Dried paw paw (https://petsville.com.au/products/dried-fruit-paw-paw-papaya-150gm) is a chattering lory favourite. It’s sweet and chewy, and it’s packed with vitamin A for healthy feathers and eyes. Give a few small pieces at a time, as it’s high in natural sugar.
Never feed your lory, or any bird, avocado, onion, chocolate, caffeine or alcohol.
Water, Vitamins and Calcium
Change your lory’s water every day, and clean the bowl at the same time. Add a vitamin supplement to the water every two to three days to cover nutrients that are commonly short in a captive diet. Vetafarm Multivet is a good choice (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-multivet-50ml).
Keeping the Cage Clean
Clean the cage regularly and never let old food build up in the cage, on perches or in feeders. Nectar and fruit spoil quickly, and stale food can grow bacteria and yeast that make your lory sick.
Worming
Worm your lory a few weeks to two months after you bring it home, then every 6 months. Vetafarm Wormout Gel treats roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-wormout-gel-50ml). Ask our team in-store which timing suits your bird.
Lice and Mites
Lice and mites are the two most common parasites of cage birds, and they’re easy to control with a mite and lice spray (https://petsville.com.au/products/fidos-avitrol-bird-mite-and-lice-spray-125ml). Take out all food and water first. Then spray the bird, the whole cage, perches, nest box and toys, keeping the spray away from your bird’s eyes.
Common Health Issues in Chattering Lories
The biggest health risk for lories is iron storage disease (hemochromatosis), a liver condition where iron builds up in the body. VCA’s avian vets recommend liver function tests every couple of years for lories and lorikeets (https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/lories-and-lorikeets—general).
Watch for fluffed feathers, weight loss, a swollen belly, breathing changes or a change in droppings, and see an avian vet promptly if you notice any. Our Common Bird Illnesses page covers more warning signs (https://birdsville.net.au/common-bird-illnesses/). For safe nail and beak care, see our Wing and Nail Trimming service (https://birdsville.net.au/wing-clipping-nail-clipping/).
Training and Handling
Training is key to a well-behaved hand-raised lory. Handle your bird in a quiet, relaxed setting, and don’t overstress it in the first few weeks at home. The more time you spend with your chattering lory, the better companion it becomes.
Breeding and Sexing Chattering Lories
Chattering lories breed fairly readily in captivity and reach sexual maturity at 2 to 3 years old. Males and females look alike, so breeders rely on DNA or surgical sexing to tell them apart.
Sydney Seasonal Tip
In hot, humid Sydney summers, wet nectar can sour within hours. Offer small amounts and replace wet mix at least twice a day, or switch to a dry mix that doesn’t spoil as fast. Keep the cage out of direct sun, and give your lory a shallow bath dish on hot days, as lories love to bathe.
Tip From Our Team
We wouldn’t recommend a chattering lory for children. In our experience, hand-raised chattering lories can be more aggressive than most other hand-raised birds, so they’re best with an adult who has kept birds before.
Chattering Lory: Frequently Asked Questions
Are chattering lories good pets?
Chattering lories can make wonderful pets for experienced owners. They’re playful, clever, affectionate and among the best talkers of the lories. They’re also loud, messy, demanding and can be nippy or aggressive, so they’re not a good choice for young children or first-time bird keepers.
Can chattering lories talk?
Yes. Chattering lories are considered one of the better talking species among lories and lorikeets, and many learn words and short phrases. As their name suggests, they’re also very vocal in general, with loud calls and constant chatter, so they suit homes where noise won’t bother neighbours.
What do chattering lories eat?
Chattering lories are nectar feeders with brush-tipped tongues, so they can’t live on seed like most parrots. Feed a commercial lorikeet nectar mix, wet, dry or both, plus fresh fruit and vegetables every day. Leafy greens such as spinach or silverbeet help with calcium. Fresh water should always be available.
How long do chattering lories live?
With good care, chattering lories commonly live 15 years or more, and the longest recorded lifespan for the species is around 27 years. A fresh, well-balanced nectar diet, a clean cage and regular avian vet checks, including liver tests for iron storage disease, all help them reach old age.
What is the difference between a chattering lory and a yellow-backed lory?
The yellow-backed lory is a subspecies of the chattering lory, not a separate species. Both are mostly red with green wings and thighs. The yellow-backed form has a yellow patch on its back, while the nominate chattering lory is red there. Care needs are the same for both.
How do you tell a male chattering lory from a female?
You can’t tell by looking. Male and female chattering lories look the same, so the only reliable way to know their sex is a DNA test, usually from a feather or blood sample, or surgical sexing by an avian vet. This matters most if you’re planning to breed.
Can I buy a chattering lory in Sydney?
Chattering lories are rarely in stock at Birdsville, so it’s best to call ahead on (02) 9669 1766 and ask whether one is coming in. Private sellers sometimes list them on Gumtree
Related Lories and Lorikeets
If you love lories, you might also like the Black Cap Lory (https://birdsville.net.au/animals-for-sale/birds-for-sale/lori-and-lorikeet/black-cap-lory/) or the Rainbow Lorikeet (https://birdsville.net.au/animals-for-sale/birds-for-sale/lori-and-lorikeet/rainbow-lorikeet/). For general nectar-feeder care, read our Lorikeet and Lori Care Guide (https://birdsville.net.au/pet-bird-advice-and-training__trashed/care-sheets__trashed/lorikeet-lori-care-guide/).
Visit Us or Call
Visit us at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015. We’re open 7 days, or you can call us on (02) 9669 1766. Every product on this page, and plenty more, is available in-store, and our team is happy to help you set up for a chattering lory.
Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@birdsvillepets) for live updates, new arrivals and what we currently have in stock.
