The iris lorikeet is distributed in the forests and woodlands on the islands of Wetar and Timor in the Lesser Sundas.

Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range and illegal trapping for the caged-bird trade, the iris lorikeet is evaluated as Near Threatened on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

[2][3] There are two or three poorly differentiated subspecies:[4][5] The iris lorikeet is 20 cm (8 in) long.

Juveniles resemble females, but have a brownish bill, brown irises, duller purple bands and less red on the head.

The extent and shade of the red and purple on the head varies between two or three subspecies.