Eclectus
Parrot (eatius anythingius)
The following is information on Grand and
Red Sided Eclectus Parrots. I no longer breed these beautiful birds.
The following information and observations are provided to assist you
with making an informed decision about purchasing an Eclectus Parrot.
The wild cousins of domestically bred Eclectus Parrots can be found in Indonesia, New Guinea and parts of northeastern Australia. Males are green with candy corn colored beaks, while the females are red with varying shades of purple or blue on their chests according to the subspecies. There are four common subspecies of Eclectus Parrots that can be found in the United States: grand, vosmaeri, red-sided and Solomon Island. The lifespan of the Eclectus Parrot ranges from fifteen to forty years depending on many variables including diet and quality of living.
Food
Requirements & Eating Habits
I feel the Latin name of Eclectus Parrots should be changed to "eatius anythingius" since eating seems to be their main priority in life. Food glorious food is an understatement. Eclectus will eat just about anything you put in front of them. Eclectus love a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, cooked food, seed mixes, pellets. Basically if mother nature grew it, an Eclectus will eat it! Try to avoid salty food or human junk food. Remember chocolate, avocado and alcohol are toxic and should never be given to your bird. There has been ongoing debate about the Eclectus having a higher requirement for vitamin A than other parrot species. If you do intend to feed your bird foods in vitamin A, please remember that vitamin A is fat soluble and excess can result in vitamin A toxicity. Moderation is the key.
I feel the Latin name of Eclectus Parrots should be changed to "eatius anythingius" since eating seems to be their main priority in life. Food glorious food is an understatement. Eclectus will eat just about anything you put in front of them. Eclectus love a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, cooked food, seed mixes, pellets. Basically if mother nature grew it, an Eclectus will eat it! Try to avoid salty food or human junk food. Remember chocolate, avocado and alcohol are toxic and should never be given to your bird. There has been ongoing debate about the Eclectus having a higher requirement for vitamin A than other parrot species. If you do intend to feed your bird foods in vitamin A, please remember that vitamin A is fat soluble and excess can result in vitamin A toxicity. Moderation is the key.
I have combined these two categories together because they both make the same point. On one hand, Eclectus have large wing spans and should be provided with the biggest cage you can afford and accommodate. At the same time, this requirement can be circumvented by spending less money on a smaller cage and spending more time with your bird. Eclectus are not very destructive birds and do not usually get themselves into trouble. Most just want to follow you around the house like a puppy or hang out on the couch with you while you watch television. People with Eclectus parrots usually have a small T-stand in every room of their house to accommodate their nomadic feathered companions. Eclectus are not high energy birds and tend to have a mellow personality. The term "couch potato" comes to mind. Many Eclectus do not like to be touched. This varies widely from bird to bird, but most do not fall into the cuddly category. Eclectus are also not generally noisy birds. Most "noise" is in the form of human speech. Some birds choose to use a natural bird call when alarmed, but I have found the majority of Eclectus choose not to use it and would classify the Eclectus as a quiet bird.
This one's a judgment call. Females have earned a reputation of being biters and having nasty mood swings. When put into the context of their bird world however, it makes sense. Eclectus are one of the few species where the female is the dominant bird. She's used to being the boss. If she gets into a breeding frame of mind, she's going to go through some moodiness. Luckily Eclectus hens tend to telegraph their moods. If you see her eyes flashing and pupils dilating with a slight all over feather fluff, this is a good time to keep your distance. The males on the other hand are the "yes dear" birds and tend to have more mellow outlook on life. They are not as likely to have mood swings, but some will occasionally seek out a "nest area in a cabinet or under a chair that they designate as off limits to their pet humans. This type of behavior usually only lasts for a few week and then you get your mellow boy back.
I cannot vouch for anyone else's Eclectus Parrots, but my own bird Kermit asks me all the time if he talks. I love the myths that birds go mute when strangers are around or that they will only learn to talk if repetitive tapes are played to them when they are young. Kermit's never had any tapes played to him. If he finds a phrase interesting, he'll use it. He's got a few favorite phrases, but he'll say whatever comes to mind, usually in perfect context and he doesn't care how many people are in the room. Sometimes I think he makes an extra effort to show off in front of strangers. He has been talking since he was six months old, and sometimes I wonder if he will ever shut up! He has roughly a fifty word vocabulary and is still adding to it at age seven.
Eclectus seem to be more prone to feather picking than most parrot species. This behavior is extremely hard to stop once it has begun, so prevention is the key. A good diet and regular spray baths may be all your bird needs to keep its feathers in prime condition. However Eclectus are very sensitive to their surroundings. Any change in daily routine, moving the cage or bringing home a new bird or human may be all your bird needs to stress him into feather picking. If your bird does begin to pick, try to determine if anything has changed in the birds environment that corresponds to when the picking began. If you come up empty, a trip to the veterinarian for a well bird checkup may help determine if the cause is medical or stress related.
Eclectus Parrots are relatively quiet, fairly nondestructive, beautiful, talkative, food loving birds. If you want a bird that will seek you out in whatever room you're in just for the purpose of hanging out, an Eclectus may be the bird for you.