Eclectus Parrot

About

The Eclectus Parrot is a large parrot native to the Solomon Islands, Sumba, New Guinea and nearby islands, northeastern Australia, and the Maluku Islands (Moluccas). It is renowned for its extreme sexual dimorphism in plumage coloration, with males being predominantly green and females predominantly red and blue/purple. This striking difference was historically so pronounced that males and females were once thought to be different species.

Size & lifespan

Length

35-42 cm (14-17 in)

Wingspan

55-65 cm (22-26 in)

Weight

380-600 g (13-21 oz)

Lifespan

30-50 years in captivity, likely shorter in the wild (20-30 years estimated)

Diet

Herbivore (frugivore, granivore, nectivore)

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Males are predominantly bright emerald green with bright red underwing coverts and flanks, and blue primary coverts. Their tail is green with a blue tip and yellow outer feathers. Females are predominantly bright red on the head and body, with a dark purplish-blue mantle, abdomen, and underwing coverts. Their tail is red with an orange tip. Both sexes have a broad yellow band on the underside of the tail.

Beak shape

Large, robust, and curved. Males have a bicolored beak: upper mandible is orange-yellow fading to yellow at the tip, lower mandible is black. Females have an entirely black beak.

Eye color

Orange-red in adults of both sexes. Juveniles have dark brown irises.

Leg color

Dark grey to black

Distinguishing features

Extreme sexual dimorphism in plumage and beak color. The short, square tail and broad wings are also characteristic.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles resemble adults but have duller plumage. Young males have a duller green, and their beak is mostly black with some orange at the base of the upper mandible. Young females have duller red and blue, and their beak is entirely black. Their irises are dark brown, transitioning to orange-red with maturity.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes. Plumage remains consistent year-round.

Sexual dimorphism

Highly pronounced. Males are green with an orange-yellow and black beak. Females are red and blue/purple with an all-black beak. This is one of the most striking examples of sexual dimorphism among parrots.

How to identify

1. 1

   Plumage Coloration

   The most definitive identification feature. Males are bright green, females are bright red and blue/purple. No other parrot species exhibits this extreme and consistent sexual dimorphism in such vibrant colors.

2. 2

   Beak Color

   Males have a bicolored orange-yellow and black beak. Females have an entirely black beak. This is a crucial field mark, especially for distinguishing sexes.

3. 3

   Size and Shape

   A relatively large, stocky parrot with a short, square tail and broad wings. Their flight is strong and direct.

4. 4

   Vocalizations

   Listen for their loud, harsh, and often piercing 'chraak' or 'kraaak' calls, especially when in flight or disturbed.

5. 5

   Habitat

   Look for them in the canopy of tropical and subtropical rainforests and lowland forests.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Tropical and subtropical rainforests, lowland forests, monsoon forests, gallery forests, and sometimes adjacent cleared areas or plantations.

Geographic range

Solomon Islands, Sumba, New Guinea (including West Papua, Papua New Guinea), Bismarck Archipelago, Maluku Islands (Indonesia), and northeastern Australia (Cape York Peninsula).

Elevation range

Primarily lowlands, from sea level up to approximately 1000 meters (3,300 feet).

Preferred environments

Mature primary and secondary forests with abundant fruiting trees and large hollows for nesting. They often forage at forest edges and in cultivated areas.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal. Most active during early morning and late afternoon, foraging and flying between roosting and feeding sites.

Feeding habits

Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of fruits, seeds, nuts, flower buds, nectar, and leaf buds. They are known to be messy eaters, dropping much of their food, which can aid in seed dispersal. They often feed in the canopy.

Social behavior

Typically seen in pairs or small family groups, though larger flocks may gather at communal roosting sites or abundant food sources. They are generally shy and wary in the wild.

Flight pattern

Strong, direct, and purposeful flight with relatively shallow wing beats. They can be quite fast. Often fly above the canopy.

Migration pattern

Resident throughout their range, not migratory. They may undertake local movements in response to food availability.

Territoriality

Breeding pairs are territorial around their nest site, especially the female. Outside the breeding season, they are less territorial and more communal.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Varies geographically. In Australia, typically from August to January. In New Guinea and other parts of their range, it can occur year-round, often peaking after the wet season.

Nesting habits

Nest exclusively in deep hollows of large, old trees, often in dead or decaying trunks. The female spends most of her time inside the nest hollow, even outside of incubation, and is fed by the male.

Clutch size

1-2 eggs

Egg description

Typically 2 eggs, rarely 1 or 3. Eggs are white, elliptical, and measure approximately 40 x 31 mm.

Incubation period

28-30 days, primarily by the female.

Fledging period

Approximately 70-80 days after hatching. Young remain dependent on parents for some time after fledging.

Parental care

The female incubates the eggs and broods the young, rarely leaving the nest. The male is responsible for feeding the female and, later, the chicks by regurgitation. Both parents feed the fledglings.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Listen for Calls. Their loud calls often betray their presence before they are seen, especially when they are flying high overhead or hidden in dense foliage.
2. Scan the Canopy. Eclectus Parrots spend much of their time foraging in the upper canopy of tall trees. Use binoculars to scan for movement or flashes of color.
3. Look for Feeding Activity. They are messy eaters; fallen fruit or discarded seed husks beneath a tree can indicate their presence above.
4. Observe at Dawn and Dusk. These are peak activity times when they are most likely to be flying between roosting and feeding sites, making them more visible.

Quick facts

Scientific Name:

Eclectus roratus

Family:

Psittaculidae

Conservation Status:

Least Concern

Diet:

Fruits, seeds, nuts, nectar

Habitat:

Tropical and subtropical rainforests

Sexual Dimorphism:

Extreme (males green, females red/blue)

Fun facts

• Eclectus Parrots are one of the few parrot species where the female is more brightly colored than the male, a reversal of the typical avian pattern.
• Due to their striking sexual dimorphism, males and females were originally described as two separate species by early ornithologists.
• The female Eclectus Parrot spends an unusually long time inside the nest hollow, sometimes for months, even before laying eggs, relying on the male for food.
• They have a unique brush-tipped tongue, similar to lorikeets, which helps them extract nectar and soft fruit pulp.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Psittaculidae

Genus

Eclectus

Species

Eclectus roratus

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