Eclectus Parrot
Scientific Name
Eclectus roratus
Conservation Status
The IUCN red list considers the eclectus parrot to be a least concern species. The Queensland and Australian Federal government both list the species as vulnerable.
This animal can visit your location for a presentation.
This animal is not used for Wilbur’s Wildlife event displays.
This animal is on show during private zoo tours.
Our Animals
Wilbur’s Wildlife is home to a male eclectus parrot known as Owald. Oswald is a favourite at our incursions for schools, vacation care and kindergartens. He also attends a range of events.Oswald is the only Wilbur’s Wildlife animal which lives in the house and is regularly pampered with a range of treats including his favourite, sunflower seed. He also enjoys playing with a range of toys to keep him occupied. His favourite toys are bells.He has recently learnt to speak and can say “hello” and “what are you doing?”
Oswald’s ancestors are from New Guinea meaning he is the only Wilbur’s Wildlife animal who is not technically native to Australia. Cale helped hand-raise Oswald and he has lived at Wilbur’s Wildlife since he was 4 months old.
Appearance
Male and female eclectus parrots exhibit sexual dimorphism (males look different to the females).Males are bright green. The underwing coverts are red while the flight feathers are black. The bend of the wing is blue. The tail is black with a yellow tip. Their upper beak is coloured like a candy corn starting off orange near the head and turning to yellow at the tip. The lower beak is black. Their eye is a pale yellow or red.
Females have a red body with a blue band across the chest. Their flight feathers are also black. The females tail feathers are orange. She has a black beak and a yellow eye.
Both males and females measure between 40 and 43cm in length. Their weight is up to 615g. Their wingspan is up to 900mm.
Lifespan
The oldest recorded lifespan for this species is 28.5 years for an animal housed at the San Diego Zoo.
Diet
Eclectus parrots are herbivores. They feed on a range of berries, seeds, wild figs, nuts, flowers, fruits and berries.
Habitat
The Eclectus Parrot is native to Australia, the Torres Strait Islands, New Guinea, Indonesia and a range of Pacific Islands.
In Australia they are found solely on the Eastern side of the Cape York Peninsula.
Primarily these animals are found in rainforests. They will also venture in to adjoining woodlands.
Reproduction
Eclectus parrots breed from August through to January.
The male and female will maintain a nest in a tree hollow. This may reach between 50cm and 6m deep in to the tree. A range of hollow’s may be present in a tree where numerous pair’s meet. Female’s are fiercely defensive of their home and may stay with it for 11 months of the year.
The female will lay 2, white oval shaped eggs in the nest on a bed of woodchips. She will incubate these for 26 days. While the female is incubating the eggs and raising the chicks she will not leave the nest. The male will go out and find food and then regurgitate this for the female on his return to the nest. In an unusual behaviour for parrots several males or older chicks from previous seasons may also help raise the chicks going out to find food for the females and chicks.
These birds may travel up to 20km in a day to find food.
Juvenile birds start out with a brown or black beak. In males this will take a year or two to develop its orange and yellow colouration.It takes up to 12 weeks for the chicks to be ready to leave the nest.
Behaviour
Eclectus parrots can be found either individually, in pairs or in groups up to 80 depending on their activity. Larger groups are usually found at fruiting trees or at popular roosting spots in the evening.
Their call sounds like a harsh rolling screech similar to ‘kar!, kar! Kar!’ They can also make whistling, chuckling and bell-like noises. They can be trained to say several words when kept in captivity.
Threats
The species is currently considered least concern due to their large range. The IUCN state that their “population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable”
The primary threat facing the eclectus parrot is deforestation. This removes tree hollows which take long periods to regenerate and are already in short supply.
Some farmers consider the eclectus parrot a pest as they eat their crops.
Unfortunately, the beautiful colours of these animal’s make them valuable for illegal trappers who poach them from the wild or steal eggs from the nest.
How you can help
Ensure you recycle your paper in your recycling bin to reduce the need to cut down forests. Its important to also purchase recycled paper products at the shop to ensure that there is a demand for recycled paper.
When purchasing timber products look for products using sustainable timber. If making items out of timber at home, see if you can recycle timber you already have.
Planting trees will help to create tree hollows for the future.
Quick Facts
The eclectus parrot is also known as the rocky river parrot and the red-sided parrot.
The opposite colours of the eclectus parrot are unique amongst parrots. When they were first discovered the males and females were believed to be separate species.
References
N/A, (2018). Eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) longevity, ageing, and life history. [online] Available at: http://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Eclectus_roratus [Accessed 20 Jul. 2018].
N/A, (2017). Eclectus parrot (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection). [online] Available at: https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/threatened-species/vulnerable/eclectus_parrot.html [Accessed 20 Jul. 2018].
N/A, (2018). Eclectus Parrot. [Online] Available at: https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/animal/eclectus-parrot [Accessed July 22nd 2018].
Cork, J. (2015). Eclectus Parrot, Eclectus roratus. [Online]. Available at https://australianmuseum.net.au/eclectus-parrot-eclectus-roratus [Accessed July 22nd 2018].
N/A. (2018). Eclectus Parrot. [Online]. Available at http://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/eclectus-parrot. [Accessed July 22nd 2018].BirdLife International. 2016. Eclectus roratus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22685022A93055321. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22685022A93055321.en. Downloaded on 22 July 2018.
Cayley, N., Chisholm, A., Hindwood, K., McGill, A., Roberts, P. and Lindsey, T. (2011). What bird is that? Sydney, NSW: Australia’s Hertiage Publishing Pty Ltd
.Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. (2014). Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight The field guide to the birds of Australia. 9th ed. Pymble, N.S.W.: HarperCollins Publishers Australia.
Morcombe, M. (2004). Field guide to Australian birds. Archerfield, Qld: Steve Parish.
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