2009-02-13 • by Administrator

The eclectus parrots (derived from the word "electic") are medium sized parrots, known for the sexually dimorphic coloration of the male and female. They are believed to have originated from the Cape York Peninsula of Australia, the Solomon Islands and the Indonesian islands. About 10 subspecies are recognized until now, but only very few of them are available in aviculture. They include parrots such as Vosmaeri, Grand, Red Sided, etc. Due to their intelligence, cognitive behavior, playfulness and its talking ability, these remarkable birds are ideally suited as pets.

Their extreme sexual dimorphism is considered very unusual, especially in the parrot family. The males have varying shades of green with a candy corn beak and splashes of red and blue on its wings and tails. The females have black beaks, and have an additional daisy yellow color on its tail. Their bodies usually have shades of lavender, red, blue or purple. This dimorphism is the reason why this species has it's name as eclectus. The male is also less aggressive than the females and are gentler in nature.

These parrots are generally classified among the top three talking parrots. They have a huge vocabulary and some can even learn a whole song. They love to mimic common household equipments sound such as doorbells, alarm clocks, etc. Its ability to communicate with humans is the result of its extremely inquisitive nature. Eclectus parrots often prefer a calm and peaceful environment, and are capable of noticing any sharp changes happening around them. Socializing and caring are also their nature, which makes them a perfect pet.

Compared to other parrots they have less behavioral problems and tempers. In spite of that, they are prone to stress and can react aggressively to unknown persons or objects. They also prefer talking to screaming, though there are very few exceptions.

Cage size is also an important factor for its growth. Eclectus parrots need very spacious cages, with large horizontal spaces to accommodate their large wingspans. Macaw cages are also very suitable for the Eclectus, as they also have provisions for swinging and other toys.

Eclectus are hardy birds, believed to have no species-specific health problems. However, they might experience some common syndromes such as "constricted toe syndrome". This and other health problems can be reduced by giving the parrot a healthy diet and regular exercise. Eclectus parrots have longer intestinal tracks than other parrots, as they need a high fiber diet. They generally thrive on exercise, natural food and pure water and also need a wide variety of nutritious foods apart from the usual vitamin and mineral supplements.

They cost between $600 and $1200 in the United States, but the price varies in every country according to their availability. The average lifespan of the Eclectus parrot is about 30 years. A sleep of ten to twelve hours a day is compulsory for the eclectus. For this, the cage must be kept in a quiet and dark place. If this is not possible, then covering the cage with a dark covering is a good option. Just make sure to remove the covering without fail in the morning!