Eclectus parrots are native to Indonesia, as well as parts of Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Eclectus parrots, or Eclectus roratus, are ideal pets with excellent speaking and breeding abilities and lifespans of up to 50 years. The name "Eclectus" was given to this parrot species because of the eclectic nature of the male and female, which are so different in appearance that they were once thought to be separate species. One of the best talkers in the parrot family of birds, Eclectus can learn words, phrases and even songs from start to finish if properly trained.
Origin and Subspecies
Originating in northeastern Australia's Cape York Peninsula, the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, the Eclectus parrot has eight to 10 recognized subspecies. The most common subspecies of Eclectus parrots, and those most readily available as pets, are Solomon Island Eclectus, grand Eclectus, red-sided Eclectus and vosmaeri Eclectus.
Sexual Dimorphism
The Eclectus parrot is known for having a sexually dimorphic appearance, which is unusual and rare in the parrot family and means that the male and female greatly differ in physical appearance. The ornithologists who discovered the species first thought Eclectus parrots were two separate species, but this was disproved in the 20th century.
Female Versus Male Characteristics
On average, female Eclectus parrots weigh slightly more than their male counterparts, but only by 1/10th lb., or 22 grams. The female Eclectus has a black beak, red head and blue feathers on most of the body. The male Eclectus parrot has an orange, white and yellow, candy corn-like beak, easily distinguishing him from other parrot species. Male Eclectus have bright green feathers and blue or red tails and wing feathers. The eyes of an adult male Eclectus are a yellowish gold or orange.
Shared Characteristics of Both Sexes
Both the female and male Eclectus parrot average 13 inches in length and have a moderate to high speaking and calling voice. Both sexes are very compatible with other species of birds. Seed and fruit eaters, Eclectus parrots are usually hard to spot in the wild, but their calls can be heard from treetops. Eclectus parrots have many different styles of call, including whistles, squeals, gong tones and coos.
As Pets
According to the website AvianWeb, Eclectus parrots make excellent pets due to their strong communication skills, cognitive ability, curiosity and calm temperament. However, care should be taken if they are placed with another bird without easing them into the environment. One-on-one time with the Eclectus parrot can help acclimate an Eclectus to a new environment or bird. Native to areas of the world with warm temperatures, Eclectus parrots should be sheltered from the cold in a cage that is at least 11.5 feet in length and 3.2 feet in width. Toys and out-of-cage time will also help increase an Eclectus parrot's quality of life, as they are very inquisitive and love attention.
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