Lories and lorikeets tribe Loriini are small to medium-sized arboreal parrots characterized by their specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar of various blossoms and soft fruits, preferably berries.[citation needed] The species form a monophyletic group within the parrot family Psittacidae. Traditionally, they were considered a separate subfamily Loriinae from the other subfamily Psittacinae based on the specialized characteristics, but recent molecular and morphological studies show that the group is positioned in the middle of various other groups. They are widely distributed throughout the Australasian region, including south-eastern Asia, Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Australia, and the majority have very brightly coloured plumage.
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