Eclectus

Eclectus

Description:
Eclectus parrots are one of the only birds you can sex by just looking at them. The male and female Eclectus are very different looking.

 

The male Eclectus are green with a yellowish beak, while the females are a red colour with a black beak. Underside of male’s wing is bright red with a small patch of blue.

 

They are about 14 inches long so one of the larger parrots, and they can live up to 30 years, or more with the right diet and environment.

 

As Pets:
Eclectus parrots are very attractive and intelligent birds. They are really stunning with their beautiful, vibrant coloration! Eclectus parrots make very affectionate pets and enjoy human attention; they can however be rather noisy pets and are best suited to environments where their loud calls are not a bother. They can talk but this is not always a guarantee and their voice is more screechy.

 

Noise level between 1 to 10:
The Eclectus Parrots are not as loud as some of its larger parrot cousins BUT they do have a very loud natural call which some people find hard to cope with. So for this reason we give the Eclectus a score of 6 for loudness.

 

Behaviour:
The Eclectus can make very affectionate pets and are one of the easier to “tame”. But with all parrot they need lots of stimulation to remain happy. They like to chew so lots of good toys rotated regularly will keep them occupied.

 

Eclectus parrots are not as acrobatic as some of their cousins but do have an inquisitive side and like to follow its owners whilst undertaking their daily routine. Eclectus parrots have been miss understood when just sat watching the world go by, they have been labelled as dull or boring, but this is just the signs of the Eclectus picking up on stress in the house.

 

Breeding seasons:
The Eclectus have no set breeding season.

 

The female lays two eggs and incubates them without the help of the male. The eggs hatch after 26 days, and the young fledge (grow feathers) and learn to fly at 12 weeks.

 

Prone illnesses:
The common illnesses for the Eclectus are;
Psittacosis (chlamydiosis or parrot fever); bacterial, viral, or fungal infections; feather picking (results of boredom, poor diet, sexual frustration, lack of bathing); allergies; chewing flight and tail feathers by juveniles, beak malformations in chicks; Papillomas; kidney disease (gout); toxicity, heavy metal poisoning; lipomas in older birds.

 

Types of Eclectus:
The species most commonly seen in captivity are:
Red-sided Eclectus
Grand Eclectus
Solomon Island Eclectus
Vosmaeri Eclectus or Vos Eclectus

 

Diet:
Eclectus require a diet high in Beta Carotene and vegetable protein, and reduced fat compared to other parrot species. They also need LOTS more fruit and veg than most. The recommendation is 80% fruit and veg with seed being only a SMALL part of their diet. The Eclectus is often deficient in Vitamin A so should be offered a good amount of dark leafy greens and orange-coloured produce (i.e., apricots, carrots, red peppers, pumpkins and sweet potatoes).

Learn more about the various types of parrots