Sibylle Faye Green Tips & ProductsProducts for your Pet Birds
Custom Search
Pet Bird Resources | Breeder's Web | Wildlife Resources | Home & Health
More Features! Forum & Classifieds | Contact | Home

Resources

Parrots of the World

Pet Bird Species


Eclectus Species & Side-by-side Comparisons


Eclectus Parrots

Eclectus Information (Personality, Care, Diet) ... Eclectus Sub-species ... Talking Ability (compared to other species) ... Common Diseases / Conditions of the Eclectus Parrot.

Eclectus Foods ... Cages / Aviaries ... Recommended Books



The following information and photos (unless stated otherwise) are copyrighted and have been reproduced with the permission of the owner of the material: Dr. Rob Marshall - an avian vet and bird breeder in Australia, and author of A Guide to Eclectus Parrots as Pet and Aviary Birds.

In Australia, the most frequently kept Eclectus parrot subspecies are hybrids of the New Guinea Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus polychlorus) and the Solomon Island Eclectus (Eclectus roratus solomonensis).

In America, the most commonly kept sub-species are the Solomon Island (Eclectus roratus solomonensis), Grand (Eclectus roratus roratus), Vosmaer's (Eclectus roratus vosmaeri) and Red Sided (Eclectus roratus polychloros) Eclectus parrots.

The large Vosmaer's and Grand Eclectus are most commonly kept eclectus sub-species in Europe.

Identification of the subspecies is challenging in the female and almost impossible in the male without knowledge of the area of origin or domestic breeding history.


Male Identification


Female Identification

Females of the different subspecies may be distinguished from each other by differences in size and colour. It is Dr Rob Marshall's view that identification of Eclectus hens is made easier when the subspecies are divided into three groups: Blue (polychlorus), Purple (roratus) and Red (cornelia/riedeli). Hen classification of some of the subspecies remains difficult without knowledge of their geographic origins.

Purple Group
Grand Eclectus    E.r. roratus
Vosmaeri Eclectus    E.r. vosmaeri

Red Group
Reideli's Eclectus    E.r. riedeli
Cornelia's Eclectus    E.r. cornelia
Blue Group
Red-sided Eclectus    E.r. polychlores
Solomon Island Eclectus    E.r. solomonensis
Australian Eclectus    E.r. macgillivrayi
Aruensis Eclectus    E.r. aruensis
Biaki Eclectus    E.r. biaki


Blue-eye ring visible in the "Blue" groupBLUE (POLYCHLORUS) GROUP

Females of the Blue (polychlorus) group have a blue eye ring, blue breast colour and lack yellow in their plumage.

There are five subspecies in the Blue (polychlorus) group:

  1. Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus solomonensis)
  2. New Guinea Red-sided Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus polychloros)
  3. Australian Eclectus Parrot - also known as Queensland Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus macgillivrayi)
  4. Aru Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus aruensis)
  5. Biak Island Eclectus Parrot ( Eclectus roratus biaki)

Some consider Aru Island Eclectus (E.r.aruensis) and Biak Island Eclectus (E.r. biaki) to be variations of the New Guinea Eclectus (E.r. polychlorus).


Eclectus Female ComparisonPURPLE (RORATUS) GROUP

There are two subspecies in the Purple (roratus) group:

  1. Grand Eclectus (E.r. roratus)
  2. Vosmaer's Eclectus (E.r. vosmaeri).

These subspecies have no blue eye ring. The different colour purple of the chest feathers readily distinguishes one from the other. E.r. roratus has a purple coloured breast and dark maroon coloured wings. E.r. vosmaeri is brighter coloured than E.r. roratus. The breast is pretty lavender (pale purple) and wings are a fire engine red colour.


RED (CORNELIA/RIEDELI) GROUP

There are two subspecies in the Red group:

  1. Tanimbar Island (Reideli) Eclectus (E. r. riedeli)
  2. Sumba Island (Cornelia) Eclectus (E.r. cornelia)

Both these subspecies are entirely red. E.r. cornelia is larger but has no yellow on the tail contrary to E. r. riedeli.


Eclectus Roratus Female Identification

Grand Red-Sided Solomon Island Vosmaeri
Size 12 inches / 30.5 cm 13 inches / 33 – 34 cm 12 - 13 inches / 30.5 – 33 cm 13 inches / 34 – 35 cm
Weight
(Younger birds generally weigh less than birds that are over 2 years old)

Female: 375 g
(Male: 415 g - 433 g)

Females: 380 g - 427g
(Male: 376g - 526g)

Female: 305 g - 414g
(Male: 350g - 376g)

Female: 366 g -460 g
(Male: 398g - 455g)
Blue Eye Ring Absent Present Present Absent
Breast Color Light Purple Royal Blue Royal Blue Light Purple
Tail / Tail Tip Bright red with (yellow-end orange tip Red Red Broad yellow tip
Vent Red Red Red Yellow
(can have some touches of red)

Eclectus Species


Sub-species Identification (side-by-side comparisons of Red Sided, Vosmaeri, & Solomon Island Eclectuses (Shades of Red & Green Eclectus Website)




Queensland Eclectus MaleMale Identification

Identification of the males from most subspecies remains difficult and relies upon differences in size and shade of green of the plumage. Both size and depth of green however may vary considerably within the same subspecies.

Male Eclectus are difficult to distinguish into species with the exception of macgillivrayi, riedeli and westermani. Macgillivrayi is large and long with a distinctive broad square head. Riedeli and Westermani are smaller and have distinct features.

Variation between individuals of the same sub-species also creates complication in identification.

Further classification difficulties arise because interbreeding of subspecies has been common in the past. As a result, confusion often arises when attempting to identify the exact sub-species of captive bred Eclectus Parrots.

Male Eclectus




If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with the AvianWeb visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the AvianWeb Webmaster.
Photo contributions and articles are welcome!


Recommended Pet Bird Products

SAVE!!! - The Aviator Harness now from $24!!

Incubator Sale!
Full-range Bird Products!

Bird Cage Information & Products

Bird Cages:

Cage Information, Instructions for Building a Cage

*** Browse Large Selection of Cages For All Birds & Ever Budget!



Environmentally safe, non-toxic products for your home:

Non-toxic Cleaning Products

Personal Care

Floor & Carpet Cleaners

Air Filtration / Conditioning

Heaters

Captive Foraging

Life of Birds - Great Bird Video - enjoy for hours!
First Aid

Book





Home | © Copyright 2006 AvianWeb - Disclaimers | For questions or comments, please contact Website Administrator: Sibylle Faye | AvianWeb Mail | Advertise on the AvianWeb


All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. The Avianweb assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these terms and those published here. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.