The pretty Eclectus Parrot is cute

ECLECTUS PARROTS

The personality and appear­ance of the Eclectus is unique. It is intelligent, playful and entertaining, but also can be quiet and observant.

Its colors appear more vibrant than most parrot species, and its head and breast feathers look more like silky hair.

The Eclectus parrot is the best of everything that intrigues us about parrots.

Physical Features

Many parrots that are popular pets are of one genus but several species. Eclectus parrots, uniquely, are all of the same genus (Eclectus) and species (roratus).

Experts disagree on the amount of subspecies there are, as many as 10 have been recognized.

The four subspecies available in the United States are the Grand (E. r. roratus), Vosmaeri (E. r. polychloros), Red sided (E .r. polychloros) and Solomon Island (E. r. solomonensis).

The five not commonly available in the United States are the Macgillivray (E. r. macgill ivrayi), Aruensis (E. r. aruensis), Cornelia (E. r. cor­nelia), Riedeli (E. r. riedeli) and Biaki (E. R. biaki).

The Westerman s (E. r. west­ermani) is known only from taxidermic aviary specimens.

Distinguishing these sexually dimorphic birds is easy: Males are mostly brilliant green and females are mostly purple with red heads. Distinguishing one subspecies from another is a different story.

For the males, you would probably have to line them up next to each other and be very familiar with all their subtle differences to stand a chance at telling them apart.

The female subspecies are more easily determined, with the following guidelines:

·         The Vosmaeri female is readily identifiable by her daisy yellow tail band,  the clear yellow 'V' in the vent area, and the absence of a blue eye ring.

·         The red sided and Solomon Island females can be identified by their cobalt blue breasts with a definite bib, rather than the gradual blending of the breast colors of the Vosmaeri female. Also, a ring of blue feathers surrounding the eye is an easy identification characteristic of the red sided and Solomon Island females.

·         The Grand female has neither the wide, clear yellow tail band of the Vosmaeri female, nor the solid red tail of the red sided and Solomon Island female, but rather a narrow tipping of dull yellow orange.

The Eclectus is con­sidered a medium size parrot. The length of the commonly available Eclectus subspecies ranges 12 to14½ inches and the wingspan is from 2 to 2½ feet.

Weight ranges are tricky because the sizes and weights of the different subspecies can overlap. It is more realistic to use a general weight range based on an average of the combined weights of all the available subspecies. The average weight of the adult male Eclec­tus is 430 grams with a range of 388 to 524 grams.

Housing Requirements

Cages should be as large as customers can afford and comfortably fit into their homes. In this case, a minimum of 30 inches wide, 24 inches deep and 36 inches high.

Outgoing birds will enjoy living directly in the traffic pattern that brings family members and friends by the cage throughout the day. More introverted birds should be placed away from the main traffic pattern where they can observe the activity of family and friends while maintaining enough pri­vate space to feel safe and se­cure.

Eclectus enjoy destroying softwood toys, manipulating handheld toys and meeting the challenge of a toy with a treat trapped inside. Advise cus­tomers to place spiral perches, swings and ropes around the cage to encourage exercise.

Dietary Needs

A varied diet is the key to a healthy Eclectus.

Start with a commercially manufactured diet of pellets and add plenty of juicy fruits, vitamin packed vegetables, leafy greens, sprouted seeds, dry seeds, nuts and cooked carrots and sweet potatoes.

An ongoing myth is that Eclectus parrots need extra vita­min A in their diets. They don't need more vitamin A than other par­rots, but rather enough of it. This can be supplied by a balanced diet that includes col­orful fruits and vegetables.

If we choose the most col­orful foods like deep green kale, collard and dandelion greens, bright yellow and orange pumpkin, sweet potatoes, can­taloupe, papaya and red pep­pers, Eclectus can convert the natural beta-carotene content of these whole foods into sufficient vitamin A to maintain health.