Eclectus Parrot - Australian Red Sided

Other Breeds

Keeshond   |   Palomino   |   Pig – Pot Bellied   |  

Alternative Name

Scientific Name: Eclectus roratus macgillivrayi

Basic Info

At maturity, Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots reach about 37 to 40 centimeters in length and are the largest subspecies of Eclectus Parrot. Their wingspan comprises about 280 millimeters and the tail is usually longer than 145 millimeters! Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots may be identified partly by their blue orbital rings. The feathering of these Eclectus Parrots has a strange texture, and has been described as "hair-like". Male Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots have yellow-tinted green feathering over the majority of their bodies. Their primary wing coverts and primary flight feathers are a dark blue color, edged in green. The upperside of the Australian Red Sided Eclectus male's tail is green and the tips of the feathers have yellow edging. The underside of the tail is black, edged with a thin band of pale yellow stretching for about ten millimeters. The iris is a reddish orange color. Female Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots have stunning red plumage with dark blue underwing coverts. They also have a band running to the nape that is dark blue. Females have dark blue, green-edged primary coverts and primary flight feathers like the male, as well. The tips of their red tails have pale edging, and their irises are a light, yellow-white color.

Health

Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots are often prone to feather plucking. To prevent this, allow the birds plenty of items to chew and try to prevent them from becoming bored. Feather plucking may also be brought on by dietary changes, inappropriate enclosure size, stress, bullying, or climatic changes. Eclectus Parrots have a longer digestive tract than any other parrot, and they need more fresh veggies and fruits than most parrots. Breeding Generally, Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots breed year round. They reach sexual maturity between two and three years of age. When she is about to breed, the female Eclectus may become quite aggressive, even toward her handler. Before laying, the female will generally spend a lot of time fussing in her nest box to arrange it suitably. She will usually lay two eggs. Because female Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots will often sit on their eggs awkwardly or forcefully and accidentally break them, a slanted or L shaped nesting box is recommended so the birds have room to position themselves better. The female Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrot will incubate her eggs for about four weeks before they hatch. The fledglings will develop sexually dimorphic coloration by the time they are about 28 days old. Usually, they will leave the nest by 75 days of age.

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

The incredibly beautiful Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrot is one of the most commonly kept subspecies of Eclectus Parrots, and the reason is obvious! These lovely parrots have personalities that are as colorful as their feathers! In the wild, Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots nest high in the forest canopy. In captivity, they tend to do well when kept in pairs. In the wild, a pair will usually be at the top of a group's hierarchy, with other parrots in the group helping the dominant pair to raise their young. Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots kept in captivity may be fed plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables along with a good basic pellet diet or seed mix. The majority of the seeds should be soaked to make them softer for the parrots. Plenty of branches or wood should be provided for your Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots to chew. Fresh eucalyptus wood is a particularly nutritious favorite. When kept outdoors, a four and a half-meter by one and a fifth meter by two-meter aviary in a sheltered area, will suffice for a pair. These birds are quite loud, but they can make good pets for people who will tolerate the noise. To reduce the birds' noise level, you may try turning on a radio for them, to allow them some form of audio entertainment other than their own voices! Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots can be taught to imitate noises and talk quite well. As with all parrots, generally, hand raised birds will make much better, tamer, healthier pets than wild-caught birds.

Origin

Australia

History

Australian Red Sided Eclectus Parrots come from Australia, as their name would imply, and their range covers the northern part, including the eastern area of the Cape York Peninsula. It was first noted by Mathews in 1913. Today, the Australian Red Sided Eclectus is one of the more popular sub species of Eclectus Parrot kept in captivity! Eclectus Parrot pairs are often mistaken for two birds of different species, since their coloration is so vastly different.

Common Foods

N/A