Meet the Ecletus Parrot, Glossy and Brilliant

Parrots are birds with gaily and boldly colors. Parrots have even, thin plumage on their whole bodies with solid color spots, which usually contrast themselves.

The most obvious feature of all parrots is the difference between the upper and lower mandibles. Both of them are curved but the upper one is curved downwards and ends like a hook while the lower one is smaller and curves upward. This is only one of the parrots distinctive features.

Another interesting special feature of the parrots is the feet. They show four toes, two of them pointing backwards and two pointing forward. This feature allows them to grasp strongly the objects around them.

Although not all of them, most parrots like to populate trees, tending to live in or close to tropical forests. They eat fruits, wild figs, buds and blossoms, seeds, nuts or berries.

They build nests in holes in the trees, or in some cases, in termite mounds or rocks. Parrots lay 2 to 5 white eggs which hatch in around 3 weeks. Both parents feed the young with predigested regurgitated food.

The eclectus parrot

In this case, the male and female show different colors, the male is bright green with red and blue spots and the female has blue belly and the rest of the plumage is crimson. Both male and female are glossy and brilliant birds.

Where can they be found? This kind of parrots is found in Solomon Islands, Lesser Sundas, N-E Australia and New Guinea. Those birds live in lowland forests and clumps of tall trees. In the early 1980’s they were discovered to be very common in the Malaccan Islands.

The eclectus parrots behavior

The eclectus parrots have strong wings and muscles, which makes them very good flyers. They fly above the forest canopy in pairs or small groups, making loud noises and searching for food. At sunset, they make display flights and gather in large groups, preparing themselves for the night.

Two distinct calls were encountered in the eclectus parrots. While they feed, they have a wailing cry or a mellow flute-like call and when they fly they repeat three or four times a screeching sound

Their food

The Eclectus parrots eat mainly fruits, seeds, nuts, leaf buds, blossoms, nectar and berries. All those are usually found up in the top of the trees.

How do eclectus parrots grow up and reproduce

Usually, those parrots find or build nests in holes in the trees in the high areas. Also they seem to like clearings in the forests or the edges of the forests for their nests.

The eclectus parrot female lays two eggs; usually on wood chips deep inside the nest and for 26 days she will be the only one to touch her eggs. Only the female broods the eggs. During this period, the male feeds her twice a day on regular intervals and those are the only times the female leaves her eggs. 12 weeks after hatching, the young parrots leave the nest.

Is Your Eclectus Parrot Healthy?

As the owner of an Eclectus parrot, you must be able to read the signs which tell you that your parrot is not feeling too well. You owe it to them to be able to do this.

A healthy Eclectus parrot is active, sociable, and alert. If your Eclectus parrot does not appear to be able to focus, or his eyes appear half closed, he probably isn’t feeling well. If he becomes aggressive to touch, he may be in pain. If he seems listless, this also indicates a problem, and you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

A healthy Eclectus parrot has a dry nose and big bright eyes. If your parrot develops a moist or runny nose, he probably needs the care of a veterinarian. His eyes should be big and bright, but not watery or runny.

Another thing to keep your eye on is your parrots appetite. Is he eating well? He should be, and as long as he is that is fine, but if he starts to refuse his food then that is a sure sign that all is not well.

The vent of a healthy parrot is always clean and dry, so if, on inspection you discover that it is not clean and dry, I would say that this is a cause for some concern, and would suggest a visit to the vet’s.

A nicely groomed parrot, with lovely smooth feathers is a sure sign that your Eclectus is enjoying good health. It goes without saying therefore that if the opposite appearance is the case, then you really should get in touch with your vet.

A healthy Eclectus parrot has legs, feet, and a beak that are in good physical shape. You should check daily for dry and cracked feet, legs, and beaks. Also, make sure that you clip your bird’s nails regularly, as this makes life much easier for him and for you.

Now let me just say that most of the health issues that your parrot might develop are brought about because of a diet which might not be quite right. If you can make sure that your Eclectus is getting all the nutrients and minerals that he needs, then any health problem should correct itself.

This does not mean, however, that you shouldn’t take your Eclectus parrot to the veterinarian, for a proper diagnosis. If you fail to do this, you could be cutting the life of your beloved feathered friend short. Again, know what the signs of a healthy bird are, so that you can easily and quickly notice if there is a potential health problem.

There is a fascinating report out which I would urge you to take a look at. It tells you what you should know if you are thinking of getting an Eclectus Parrot, and what you should know if you already own one.

You will find very helpful tips on health, fitness and caring so that you will know how you can best have a happy and healthy parrot.

Behavior Problems Common to the Eclectus Parrot

Eclectus parrots are very special birds, and to many owners, they are often like small children. They definitely each have their own personalities, but they also have two growing stages that can be quite trying. These growing stages are similar to a human child’s terrible twos and puberty. Here is a breakdown of both of these growing stages.

The Terrible Twos – The terrible twos for Eclectus parrots occurs between the ages of three and five months. It is during this time that they are generally naughty – and into everything. They will essentially test the boundaries set by the breeder, the owner, or their actual parent. It is during this time that the young Eclectus parrot needs to learn who is boss (you).

It is very vital to your bird’s future behavior that you do not tolerate his bad behavior during the terrible twos. For example, you must make him do what it is that you want him to do, instead of allowing him to do what he wants to do during training sessions. This does not mean, however, that he should be punished. Essentially, you need to show him that you are dominant. During this period, experts advise that you should not let the bird sit on your shoulder, as this puts him above your eye level, which in his world means that he is dominant.

Puberty – When your Eclectus parrot is about nine months old, he will start going through what is essentially puberty. Just as human teenagers have raging emotions, these birds also have raging emotions, and they look for a way to deal with them. This stage, unfortunately, can last until the bird is about two or three years old.

Of the two growing stages, this one is often the hardest for the owner to deal with, because it lasts the longest. The good news is that unless your Eclectus parrot has been demonstrating poor behavior before this period, he will grow out of it, just as most teenagers do. During this time, you may notice extreme mood swings, screaming that takes place more often, shadow boxing, and even masturbation. It is also during this time, of course, that the Eclectus parrot will start showing obvious interest in the opposite sex.

The key to getting through both of these trying times is patience – just as though you were dealing with a human child. However, discipline really isn’t suggested, since the Eclectus parrot won’t understand it. Instead, encourage more appropriate behavior, and understand that your beloved bird will outgrow these awkward stages, and he will become the bird that you’ve grown to love once again.

The Eclectus Parrot is the most wonderful of birds, and a very popular bird to adopt, and the reason for this is because they are actually very pleasant birds.

This article is one in a series of articles on the Eclectus Parrot. If you would like to receive the other articles in the series, as and when they come out, then please go to my website (see below) where you can send me an email requesting this.

All the Secrets of the Eclectus Parrot

The Eclectus parrot is rivaled as one of the most brilliant parrots. Both male and female are full of beautiful colors from red contrasted by and almost electric blue to green contrasted by bright yellow. These colors make them among the most sexually dimorphistic birds. The female of the species boasts a fire engine red head with electric blue chest and a black beak where as the male is covered with a bright jade green and bright yellow beaks.

Eclectus parrots are native to Solomon Islands, New Guinea, northeastern Australia and the Maluki Islands. In New Guinea many of the people consider Eclectus parrots to be pests because there numbers are so great which leaves the people and birds competing for the same fruits and berries. Often times the people of New Guinea will shoot the parrots with sling shots and the use there feathers as decoration.

Eclectus parrots are very strong fliers, flying high above the canopies in small groups as they search for food. Just before roosting at night Eclectus parrots will perform in display flights, almost like dancing in the air.

Eclectus parrots have two distinctive calls they use. One is used during flight and is a more screech like call that is repeated several times. The other is used during feeding and is more of a cry mellow call. They also have a very well established ability of speech imitation. They are able to learn a vast vocabulary that rivals the African Grey parrot, on top of that they can learn songs and love to sing.

Interesting facts about Eclectus Parrots

Feeding the Eclectus parrots fortified foods such as pellets, and breads can lead to the phenomena known as toe-tapping and wing flapping. This is because they have a longer than normal digestive tract that is very sensitive to food additives. This may become a problem in Eclectus parrots kept as pets.

The eclectus parrot, like all parrots, eats fruits, seeds, and nuts but there favorite fruit is the pomegranate. The pomegranate is an almost peach looking fruit that is filled with seeds held together by a fleshy white meat. The pomegranate is a seasonal fruit and is only available for a very limited amount of time making it difficult for Eclectus parrot owners to acquire, however Eclectus parrots are very partial to corn which is almost always readily available. It is thought that they enjoy corn so much because of its bright yellow color and that corn can be an interesting food to peel.

How Much Is That Eclectus Parrot In The Window?

Of more than 350 species of parrot, the Eclectus is considered by many to be the most beautiful. Eclectus are not just beautiful, however. They are also great talkers, repeating many words and phrases, and singing songs. If you have more than one Eclectus, they will sing and talk to one another as well as to their human friends.

Which Eclectus Do You Want?

Eclectus parrot prices differ according to the Eclectus you want.

The Eclectus belongs to the genus Eclectus, and the species Roratus. There are 7 to 9 subspecies within the species. The three most popular are:

1. The Red-sided Eclectus from New Guinea, to the north of Australia. It is the most popular Eclectus in Australia, and highly popular in other lands as well. With plumage that seems to be hair rather than feathers, the male sports emerald green with blue in the bend of his wings When he flies, red flashes from beneath the wings. The female has a red head, maroon body, deep blue to purple breast feathers, and a tail that ends in a pale red-pink to orange.

2. The Solomon Eclectus native to Bismarck and the Solomon Islands, north of Australia. Males have yellow-tinted green bodies with dark blue wings, edged in green. The upper side of the tail is green with yellow edging. The underside of the tail is black, edged with a thin band of pale yellow. Females have stunning red plumage, with dark blue under-wings and a band of dark blue running to the nape. Wings are the same as the male – red tails have pale edging.

3. The Vosmaeri Eclectus native to Moluccas, Indonesia. Males have a bright green body, with oval patches of bright red on upper thighs, widening across the body when wings open. The tail is blackish blue, tipped with pale yellow. Females have bright lavender breasts, with red bodies and heads. The nape of the neck, upper mantle, and wing bend show deep lavender. The wings are deep red, tails cadmium-yellow beneath, dark red on top, and a band of yellow.

General Pricing

Eclectus parrot prices usually range from the Solomon Eclectus at the low end to the Vosmaeri at the high end.

Breeder Eclectus Parrot Prices

As of the writing of this article (February 2007), Eclectus parrot prices ranged from $800 to $1,200 each. Sample Eclectus parrot prices are listed here:

1. Solomon Eclectus: $800, male or female
2. Red-sided Eclectus: $845, male or female
3. Vosmaeri Eclectus: $1,000 for a male, $1,200 for a female

All Eclectus parrot prices given are U.S. breeders, U.S. dollars.

“Bargain” Eclectus Parrot Prices

When is a bargain a bargain? Eclectus parrot prices can be lower on eBay or other online auction sites. You can also find lower Eclectus parrot prices in local newspaper classified ads. These carry no guarantee, of course, and the parrots may not be healthy.

Whatever the Eclectus parrot prices you find, you will want to be more careful than the buyer in this bit of humor.

The Multilingual Eclectus

A man passing a pet shop sees 3 beautiful Solomon Eclectus priced at $1,500.
He goes into the shop and asks, “Why such high Eclectus parrot prices?”

”Each of them speaks five languages,” says the salesman.

”Five languages!” exclaims the man. “Do they speak Yiddish?”

”Sure,” says the salesman.

The man looks at the Eclectus again. “My mother lives all alone in the Bronx,” he says, “and a bird would be good company for her,” He pays the $1,500, asks to have a parrot delivered to his mother, and goes on his way.

The next day, he calls his mother and asks, “Mom, how did you like the Eclectus parrot I sent you?”

”Oh son, it was delicious!” she says.

”What do you mean delicious?”

”I made soup out of it – came out great!”

”But mom, that parrot spoke five languages!”

”So, why didn’t he say something?”

Hidden Eclectus Parrot Prices

Before you purchase, you should consider the fact that Eclectus parrot prices are only the beginning. You will also have the costs of a large cage, toys, food, and other needs. Hidden Eclectus parrot prices can mount swiftly.

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