The Eclectus Parrot or Great Eclectus ( Eclectus roratus ) is a parrot native to Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Moluccas, and northeastern Australia. 10 subspecies spread over its entire geographic distribution.

ECLECTUS IN NATURE

The Eclectus is an exception among parrots, indeed, it is one of the rare psittacines to have a dimorphism male is green with an orange bill, while the female is bluish-purple with a black bill.

An individual measures 30 to 40 cm for a weight of 380 to 800g for the strongest. It has an average lifespan of 25 to 30 years (and up to 50 years in captivity

Eclectus live solitary, in pairs, or in small groups which are often composed only of males during the nesting period. Mostly active (and noisy!) At dawn and dusk, it is more discreet the rest of the day. In the evening, he gladly joins cockatoos (especially yellow hoopoes) to make a common dormitory.

Even if occasionally, this bird descends to feed in agricultural plots, we mainly find Eclectus in wooded areas: forests, mangroves, plantations, cultivated plots (plantation of coconut palms, eucalyptus, etc.). They can live up to nearly 2,000 meters above sea level.

The Eclectus is pure arboreal, meaning that they spend almost all of their time in the canopy. This information is very important, perhaps even the most important because it contains all the information necessary for its good keeping in captivity.

In nature, its diet consists mainly of plants: fruits, seeds, flowers, buds, nuts, and nectar. Large Eclectus particularly appreciate pandanus, bananas, corn, figs, and papayas.

Eclectus parrot breeding

Eclectus parrot diet

In nature, Eclectus feed in trees, they eat all or some parts (leaves, nuts, seeds, fruits…). The Eclectus is therefore a pure vegetarian (and not a granivore), its digestive system is therefore adapted to this diet. Its digestive tract is shorter than that of other parrots, which allows them to assimilate nutrients that other parrots reject. His diet must, therefore, be made up accordingly: 80% fresh fruits and vegetables (60% minimum)! The portion of vegetables and fruit must be fair and above all DI-VER-SI-FIÉ

Here is a non-exhaustive list of fruits or vegetables that Eclectus appreciate:

Fruits

Pomegranate (one of his favorites), mango, fig, guava, cherry, melon, stone fruit (peach, plum, …), citrus, pear, apple, banana, kiwi, grape, strawberry, passion fruit, watermelon, apricot tomato (ripe), …

Vegetables

Green beans, carrots, celery, spinach, snow peas, radishes, beets, chard, lettuce, zucchini, broccoli, squash, red and green peppers, corn, peppers, peas in general …
Be generous in foods rich in beta-carotene (basically orange and green vegetables!), It needs fairly high intakes.

Foods not recommended for Eclectus are:

• animal proteins (meat, eggs, fish, etc.)
• vitamin supplements. Eclectus are very sensitive to vitamins of synthetic origin, which is why they should never be given
• vitamin supplements. Their digestive system does not assimilate them, and in the long term, the vitamins create toxicity for the liver and kidneys.
• Lawyer
• Chocolate
• Tea, coffee

The rest of the Eclectus diet must be DI-VER-SI-FIÉ once more. It can include:

• sprouted legumes (perfect for providing the necessary vitamins). prefer large seeds. It is best to distribute them at the start of germination
• nectar
• flowers
• cooked cereals (rice, couscous, wheat, oats, pasta)
• a tiny bit of small seeds like millet and canary seed.
• sweets
• nuts. (Please ban peanuts!). Even though they have a large beak (you shouldn’t have missed it!), Eclectus have a fragile beak, not being suited for breaking the hard shells of nuts. It is, therefore, necessary to present them open or unhooked.
• seeds. Mixtures for canaries and parakeets are often popular (yes, he prefers small seeds as surprising as it may seem!)!
• extrudates or pellets.

Let’s take a look at the extrudates … They should be distributed sparingly because they are often the cause of hypervitaminosis (I will talk about the consequences a little later).

The only extrudates I can recommend are the “Pretty Bird Specifique Eclectus” designed just for them. Despite everything, they must compose a very small part of the diet.

3 Myths About The Eclectus Parrot Diet | What Should Eclectus Parrots Really Eat!

SOURCE:BirdTricks

The results

Poor diet (extrudates / dry seeds …) has harmful consequences on the health of your bird: early death, sudden death, various pathologies, the tendency to obesity if a healthy and balanced diet …

The plumage is the best mirror of your bird’s health. A dull plumage, without shine, damaged, degraded by pecking is the reflection of a bad diet. So now you know how to fix it!

Eclectus are sensitive to vitamin overdose ( hypervitaminosis ) which can result in pecking (obviously) but also on aggressiveness, abnormal screaming and cries, involuntary movements of the fingers …

L’Éclectus consumes little water because most of its hydration is provided by fresh products. If your parrot consumes too many dry seeds or extrudates, then their body will not have enough water to process solid food and synthetic vitamins, leading to engorgement of the liver and overall chemical toxicity leading to more ailments (pecking, involuntary movements of the fingers…).

The distribution

As with all animals, you must wash and clean the food. L’Éclectus appreciates its fresh food cut into small pieces (cube 1 to 2 cm, or grated). He needs 2 to 3 meals a day Each bowl can contain between 4 and 7 tablespoons of the daily ration.

Physical activity and toys

Along with a suitable diet, your bird should have the opportunity to exercise His cage must, therefore, be large enough and he must be able to stretch his wings daily. Good exercise helps the Eclectus maintain physical and mental health and is a necessity for a happy and healthy pet. L’Éclectus likes to climb, nibble on softwood, swing, play quietly with his toys, forage (especially with hanging enrichments), …

Enrichment side

The Eclectus is no junkie for toys and other goodies. Be careful, don’t make me say what I didn’t say! He likes to have it available and play with it on a daily basis Above all, the Eclectus loves soft destruction toys (like cardboard boxes or thin and fresh branches) and foraging toys For more ideas on this site, refer to my book “Toys for my Parrot” and to the articles/tutorials online on african-parrot.com  He often plays calmly and alone.

Eclectus parrot adoption

Care for Eclectus Parrots

SOURCE:SGS Birds

Let’s talk behavior

The Eclectus is not very gregarious, he prefers to live alone or in a couple. As a result, it is not a clingy pet bird, it is more of the reserved and autonomous style He likes to be in the presence of his humans but in the same room that is enough for him, no need to be glued to you 24 hours a day. It tolerates close contact (caresses for example) but never in high doses or too long.

As this behavior is not natural, it is an excellent training and conditioning track for chicks and young birds.

 

Mr. Eclectus is, in general, gentler and more affectionate than Madame The latter is also more territorial and in no way accepts the intrusion of another bird in its private apartments!

We can say that it is a calm bird and not very noisy (apart from the usual bugle hours of parrots). He can reproduce words or sounds quite easily if requested and reinforced, his voice is quite soft.

On the personality side, we can, therefore, say that it is an autonomous parrot, calm and reserved

 

The Eclectus spends much of its time taking care of its plumage

Part of the explanation lies in the texture of the feathers, which are more “filamentous” than a normal feather. The Eclectus can’t stand having a dirty feather, which is why he spends an of his free time tending to his feathers. These parrots

appreciate water (and especially showers!) Because they help them in their task.

2 to 3 showers per week are reasonable (in summer you can increase the frequency a little).

 

You knew for a long time that the Eclectus is an exceptional parrot, I did not teach you anything about this side! But if I have been able to improve your knowledge of his needs, then I am over the moon! Keep in mind the 3 most important things:

• Diet is involved in 95% of health problems
• He needs fresh and soft food every day
• It is a bird that consumes little energy, calm and reserved

And nothing could be easier for you than to apply all of this and have a perfectly healthy parrot.

Eclectus parrot information

Respecting The Eclectus Parrot

SOURCE:BirdTricks

Not Latin: Eclectus roratus. Common name: Grand Eclectus. English name: Eclectus parrot. Protection Status: Annex IIB

It measures between 30 and 40 cm, weighs between 300 and 600 gr, and its longevity is estimated at about forty years, although there are few studies on this subject.

This parrot is, in many ways, an exception among parrots.

First of all, and unlike many psittacines, Eclectus has a marked sexual dimorphism, so much so that males and females were taken for different species for a long time.

Males are bright green in plumage, with red and blue feathers at the underside of the wings, flight feathers, and tail, with a mandala-shaped upper mandible, orange-coral in color.

 

• COLOR Green, Red
• SIZE medium
• LIFESPAN Up to 30 years
• SOUNDS Vocal communicator
• INTERACTION Social

Eclectus parrot pictures

Eclectus parrot male

The female when she has a plumage-dominated red, with the belly of a beautiful purple and a blue-collar behind the neck. The trail turns to an orange color and the beak is entirely black.

Eclectus parrot female

The texture of the Eclectus feathers is also very particular, almost closer to the hair than the feathers, which makes it all the more difficult to maintain. Eclectus, therefore, spend a lot of time taking care of their plumage and need regular access to water.

The wilderness of Eclectus Parrot

The Eclectus has 10 subspecies distributed between New Guinea, Sumba, North Maluku, Archipelago Bismarck, and the Solomon Islands. An isolated population also lives in the North of Australia.

Eclectus roratus vosmaeri (North and Maluku coasts)
Eclectus roratus roratus (Southern Maluku)
Eclectus roratus cornelia (Sumba and surrounding islands)
Eclectus roratus westermani (Indeterminate origin: Banda Sea areas, East Indonesia)
Eclectus roratus riedeli (Tanimbar Islands)
Eclectus roratus aruensis (Aru Islands, New Guinea)
Eclectus roratus biaki (Biak Island, North New Guinea)
Eclectus roratus polychloros (New Guinea and surrounding islands)
Eclectus roratus solomonensis (Admiralty Island, Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands)
Eclectus roratus macgillivrayi (Cape York, Australia.)

Unlike other psittacines, the Eclectus has a solitary behavior. Individuals live alone, in pairs or sometimes in small groups of males during the breeding season, but most of the time these birds are solitary. They group together only to spend the night in dormitories shared with other species, such as the yellow-crested cockatoos.

To be even more different from others, Eclectus are openly polygamous. The nest, occupied by the female that broods alone, can be visited, and the female can be replenished by several males during single breeding, sometimes up to 8 miles for a single nest. And males do not just care for a single female, each male covers a

large area of forest suitable for nesting, where he will visit and feed several females, as much as there will be a nest on its territory. The nests are installed in cavities of large trees, up to 30 meters above the ground. The good reproduction of the Eclectus thus depends on the surface of available territory and the age of the forest, this one having to offer a maximum of big hollow trees. Fortunately, the Eclectus thrives well, and their population of some 300,000 individuals is not threatened.

Eclectus parrot diet

Eclectus Parrot Food

The Eclectus has a diet very different from other parrots. It is absolutely not granivorous, but rather vegetarian. They need a daily food base of at least 80% fresh produce!

Suffice to say from the outset that the parrot food Eclectus is expensive, both in time and money. But they deserve it so much!

Here are some fruits and vegetables that can compose his daily ration: apple, pear, cherry, melon, watermelon, papaya, mango, grapes, peach, apricot, banana, pomegranate, guava, tomato, strawberries, kiwi, beetroot, carrot, zucchini, broccoli, squash, red and green pepper, corn, peppers, beans, etc. All this must be diversified and mixed in a variety of ways so that all fruits and vegetables pass through!

And for the remaining 20%, they can consist of sprouted legumes, nectar and flowers, cereals (rice, couscous, wheat, oats), and a few small seeds such as millet and canary seed. Canaries mixes and nutriberries for parakeets are often a joy!

Eclectus parrot pictures

Eclectus are very sensitive to vitamins of synthetic origin, so you should never give them vitamin supplements. Their digestive system does not assimilate them, and in the long term, vitamins create toxicity for the liver and kidneys.

The only additions of industrial origin tolerated are the Eclectus special granules, and only those for Eclectus, like the Pretty Bird Specifique Eclectus. But these must be given in compassion and not in staple foods.

Pretty Bird Specific Eclectus

The Eclectus drink little, most of their hydration is provided by the fresh products. If you feed it with seeds and pellets, your bird will not absorb enough water to process solid food and synthetic vitamins, resulting in liver engorgement and chemical toxicity. We therefore strongly recommend applying to the diet of your Eclectus, because they are often very poorly fed and are therefore pecking.

Plucked Eclectus

If you do not think you can offer such a demanding diet, we advise you to go to another species, the less delicate diet, which will bring you as much pleasure while being less complicated. You will have no trouble keeping your bird in shape and in good health.

Eclectus parrot care

Eclectus Parrot Characteristics and needs as a pet

The Eclectus, by their wild manners, are quite independent birds. They will appreciate a human company if it is rich and stimulating. Otherwise, your bird will take care of itself. Eclectus are quite energy-efficient, and females may be overweight due to a lack of physical activity. We must stimulate them by introducing many foraging toys and educational activities rich in positive reinforcement.

 

From a behavioral point of view, males are not exclusive and accept all members of the family quite easily. The females are more territorial, especially with regard to their cage. The Eclectus do not share their cage! If you plan to have multiple birds, always plan a cage for each, the Eclectuses are not lenders.

They are not destructive either. Their beak made to chew fruits and soft stems are not as hard as other species. The Eclectus will, therefore, love toys made of natural materials, softwood, and leather. They are also fond of paw toys.

When speaking, even though the Eclectus may have hoarse screams, they can also imitate the human voice and speak with a little girl’s voice. Male as a female can learn, and their ability to speak will depend on the individuality of your bird, and also on your ability to stimulate it.

Eclectus parrot breeders

Eclectus parrot price

How much do Eclectus parrots cost ?

Eclectus parrot cost: The Eclectus from a reputable breeder, it will cost you between $600 and $2,000 depending upon the subspecies.

Eclectus parrot lifespan

How long do Eclectus parrots live ?

Under ideal conditions in captivity I would say the average lifespan would be about 30-35 years, I think 60 would be pretty rare

Remember that lifespan is different than life expectancy.

Lifespan is a biological term and basically represents how long the bird can live in optimum conditions.

Life expectancy is how long it will probably live (on average) in the conditions it is actually in.

People tend to confuse the two.

I think with Eclectus parrots, the very regimented diet required to keep them healthy has probably caused their life expectancy in captivity to suffer. Properly cared for, I don’t see any reason why they would break with the loose rule of thumb “the larger the parrot, the longer-lived.” I wouldn’t think 60 years would be out of the question if someone were very diligent, and yes, lucky as well.

I think other species of parrots have a longer life expectancy in captivity than their wild brethren, albeit some would argue that their lives are not as full (not me! ). Eclectus parrots (Eclectuses, Eclectic..is it Greek or Latin? ) might just be the exception to that rule (but hopefully that will change!!!).

 

Eclectus parrot talking

Eclectus parrot singing and talking

SOURCE:lprice2829

Eclectus parrot sounds

Eclectus parrot size

Eclectus parrot measures around 35 cm (14 in) in length.

Eclectus Parrot. Size: 14 inches; Lifespan: 30 years; Bird Species: Parrot; Colors: Green, Red & Purple.

 

Eclectus parrot cage

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Best Overall	Prevue Pet Products Wrought Iron Select Bird Cage	4.5
Runner Up	Homey Pet – 65″ House Shape Bird Cockatoo Macaw Cage	4.4
Best Budget Buy	Super Deal 68″ Large Bird Cage	4.0
Best Large Cage	Mcage Large Double Flight Bird Wrought Iron Double Cage	4.0
Best Aviary	Bestmart INC LARGE Aluminum Bird Cage Walk In Aviary	4.2

The 10 Best Parrot Cages for Eclectus parrot

Eclectus parrot cage

 

 

Eclectus parrot toys

 

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Best Overall	Bonka Bird Toys Spoon Delight Toy	4.6
Runner Up	Aigou Bird Spiral Rope Perch	4.7
Best Budget Buy	Petsvv Rope Bungee Bird Toy	4.5
Best Bird Play Gym	Mrli Pet Bird Play Stand	4.4
Best Bird Foraging Toy	Planet Pleasures Octopus Pinata Bird Toy	4.6

 

 

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