Eclectus Parrot - News - Business News

DescriptionMale Eclectus Parrot, Melbourne Zoo, AustraliaFemale E. r. vosmaeri at North Carolina Zoo. No other subspecies combines a purple abdomen and clear yellow undertail covertsA pet juvenile male. The upper mandible has a brown base and yellow tip, and the irises are dark brown/blackThe Eclectus Parrot is unusual in the parrot family for its marked sexual dimorphism in the colours of the plumage. The male is mostly bright green with blue primaries, and red flanks and underwing coverts, while the female is mostly red with a blue abdomen and nape in most subspecies, purple abdomen and nape in the subspecies from the north and central Maluku Islands (roratus and vosmaeri), and red abdomen and nape in the subspecies from Sumba and Tanimbar Islands (cornelia and riedeli). Females of several subspecies have a yellow-tipped tail; taken to the extreme in riedeli and vosmaeri which also have yellow undertail coverts. The upper mandible of the adult male is orange at the base fading to a yellow towards the tip, and the lower mandible is black. The beak of the adult female is all black. Adults have yellow to orange irises and juveniles have dark brown to black irises. The upper mandible of both male and female juveniles are brown at the base fading to yellow towards the biting edges and the tip. TaxonomyOrnithologists usually classify the Eclectus Parrot as a member of tribe Psittaculini in the Psittacidae family of order Psittaciformes. However, some recent thought indicates that there is a great deal of commonality between the Eclectus Parrot and the Loriinae tribe. The Eclectus Parrot is the most sexually dimorphic of all the parrot species. The contrast between the brilliant emerald green plumage of the male and the deep red/purple plumage of the female is so marked that the two birds were, until the early 20th century, considered to be different species.It is thought that there are nine (possibly ten) subspecies of Eclectus Parrots, with diff erences in size and colouring. In captivity, some of the most common subspecies are the Solomon Island, the Vosmaeri, and the New Guinea Red-sided.Grand Eclectus (Eclectus roratus roratus)Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus solomonensis)New Guinea Red-sided Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus polychloros)Australian Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus macgillivrayi)Vosmaer's Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus vosmaeri)Aru Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus aruensis)Westerman's Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus westermani) doubtfully valid.Sumba Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus cornelia)Tanimbar Islands Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus riedeli)Biak Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus biaki)Although the Eclectus Parrot is the only extant species in the genus Eclectus, fossil remains of another species, Oceanic Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus infectus), have been found in archaeological sites in the islands of Tonga and Vanuatu (Steadman 2006). The species presumably existed in Fiji as well. E. infectus had proportionally smaller wings than the Eclectus Parrot. The species went extinct after the arrival of man 3000 years ago, presumably due to human-caused factors (habitat loss, introduced species). DietThe diet of the eclectus in the wild consists of mainly fruits, wild figs, unripe nuts, flower and leaf buds, and some seeds. Two favorite fruits are the pomegranate and the papaya (pawpaw) with seeds. In captivity, they will eat most fruits including mangos, figs, guavas, bananas, any melons, stone fruits (peaches etc), grapes, citrus fruits, pears and apples. The eclectus has an unusually long digestive tract and this is why it requires such a high fiber diet. In captivity the eclectus parrot does benefit from a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, leafy greens such as endive and dandelion, as well as a variety of seeds, including spray millet, and a few nuts such as shelled almonds and shelled walnuts. AvicultureFemale at Rosamond Gifford Zoo, USEclectus parrots are one of the more popular birds kept in captivity, as either parent or hand reared. Unlike many other species of parrot they are relatively easy to breed yet difficult to hand feed. Eclectus in captivity require vegetables high in beta-carotene, such as lightly cooked sweet potato, fresh broccoli clumps, and fresh corn on the cob. Fresh greens such as endive or commercial dandelion are a very important in providing calcium and other nutrients. As with all pet birds, they should not be fed avocado, chocolate, or high fat junk foods such as French fries or commercially processed human foods such as pizza. Parrots are unable to digest the lactose in milk. Spray millet is one of the seed items they enjoy, though the Eclectus diet should typically contain much less seed than other birds. A variety of soaked and cooked beans and legumes, along with brown rice, provided in limited amounts help provide protein. Nuts and seeds provide vitam in E, but should be limited in order to avoid too much fat in the diet, as Eclectus parrots can become obese.A seven-week old male chick that has been hand reared for the pet trade.The captive Eclectus can be susceptible to muscle spasms known as toe-tapping and wing flipping, while all the causes are not clear, a major cause is a chemical imbalance in vitamins and minerals. These movements have not been observed in the wild. Potential causes include calcium deficiency, consumption of pellets or other foods that are overly fortified with man made vitamins or artificially colored, or even simple dehydration. Fortified or artificial foods may also cause allergic reactions in some individuals, including severe itchiness leading to feather and skin damage.Captive Eclectus parrots are prone to feather destruction (picking, pulling, cutting and or barbing) in captivity. Causes can be difficult to pin down, but diet / health, boredom and hormonal changes are thought to be the cause . Once this behavior begins it is nearly impossible to stop. Often only a mechanical barrier (e-collar) is successful in keeping the afflicted parrot from completely stripping all but its head of feathers. Other captive species that are prone to this behavior are; Cockatoo, African Grey, and to some extent the Macaw. ReferencesBirdLife International (2004). Eclectus roratus. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concernGarnett, S. (1993) Threatened and Extinct Birds Of Australia. RAOU. National Library, Canberra. ISSN 0812-8014Steadman D. (2006) "A New Species of Extinct Parrot (Psittacidae: Eclectus) from Tonga and Vanuatu, South Pacific." Pacific Science 60(1): 137145 abstract External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to: Eclectus roratusWikispecies has information related to: Eclectus roratusWorld Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia - Species ProfilesBird Life Species FactsheetHonolulu Zoo Article on Eclectus ParrotsInformation and photographs of Ecletus Parrots. Land of Vos.Information and photographs of Ecletus Parrots. Eclectus-parrots.comvdeTribus: PsittaculiniGenusSpecies (taxonomy note: * Runion Parakeet and Mauritius Parakeet may united as subspecies or split as separate species)(extinctions: indicates a species confirmed to be extinct, indicates evidence only from sub-fossils)PsittinusBlue-rumped ParrotPsittacellaBrehm's Tiger Parrot Painted Tiger Parrot Modest Tiger Parrot Madarasz's Tiger ParrotGeoffroyusRed-cheeked Parrot (or Singing Parrot) Blue-collared Parrot Song ParrotPrioniturusMontane Racket-tail Mindanao Racket-tail Blue-headed Racket-tail Green Racket-tail Blue-crowned Racket-tail Blue-winged Racket-tail (or Sulu Racket-tail) Yellow-breasted Racket-tail Golden-mantled Racket-tail Buru Racket-tailTanygnathusGreat-billed Parrot Blue-naped Parrot Blue-backed Parrot Black-lored ParrotEclectusEclectus Parrot Oc eanic Eclectus Parrot (extinct or prehistoric)AlisterusAustralian King Parrot Moluccan King Parrot Papuan King ParrotAprosmictusJonquil Parrot (or Olive-shouldered Parrot) Red-winged ParrotPolytelisSuperb Parrot Regent Parrot Princess ParrotPsittaculaAlexandrine Parakeet (or Alexandrine Parrot) Seychelles Parakeet Rose-ringed Parakeet (or Ringnecked Parakeet) Runion Parakeet* Mauritius Parakeet* Newton's Parakeet Slaty-headed Parakeet Grey-headed Parakeet Plum-headed Parakeet Blossom-headed Parakeet Lord Derby's Parakeet Red-breasted Parakeet Nicobar Parakeet Long-tailed ParakeetLoriculusVernal Hanging Parrot Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot Philippine Hanging Parrot (supporting pages: Cebu Hanging Parrot and Camiguin Hanging Parrot) Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot Great Hanging Parrot (or Sulawesi Hanging Parrot) Sula Hanging Parrot Moluccan Hanging Parrot Sangihe Hanging Parrot Orange-fronted Hanging Parrot (or Papuan Hanging Parrot) Bismarck Hanging Parrot (or Green-fronted Hanging Parrot Pygmy Hanging Parrot (or Red-billed Hanging Parrot) Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot Wallace's Hanging Parrot Camiguin Hanging ParrotAgapornisRosy-faced Lovebird (supporting page: Peach-faced Lovebird colour genetics) Yellow-collared Lovebird (or Masked Lovebird ) Fischer's Lovebird Lilian's Lovebird Black-cheeked Lovebird Grey-headed Lovebird (or Madagascar Lovebird) Black-winged Lovebird (or Abyssinian Lovebird) Red-headed Lovebird (or Red-faced Lovebird) Black-collared LovebirdIncertae sedis(probably Psittaculini)Mascarene Parrot (genus: Mascarinus) Broad-billed Parrot (genus: Lophopsittacus) Rodrigues Parrot (genus: Necropsittacus) Categories: IUCN Red List least concern species | Psittaculini | Parrots | Genera of birds | Birds kept as pets | Birds of Australia | Birds of Southeast Asia | Birds of Indonesia | Birds of Papua New Guinea | Birds of the Solomon IslandsHidden categories: Articles lacking in-text citations from April 2009 | All articles lacking in-text c itations

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