Eclectus roratus is the only species of the genus Eclectus. It includes about 7-9 subspecies (there is no agreement among the various authors on the precise number), rather difficult to distinguish between them. The different subspecies vary in size and in different shades of color of the females. Males instead have the same color in all subspecies.
Origin and description
This parrot comes from the Solomon Islands, Moluccas, New Guinea, northeastern Australia. In nature it lives in dense tropical and semi-tropical rain forests. The natural diet consists of fruits (especially figs, pomegranates and papayas), nuts, seeds, berries, buds and leaves, flowers, nectar.
It is the species of parrot that shows the most pronounced sexual dimorphism: in fact the two sexes have completely different colors. The male is emerald green, while the female is scarlet and brownish; in most of the subspecies the nape and the abdomen of the female are blue. In the male the upper beak is orange and yellow, and the lower beak is black. The beak in the adult female is completely black. In young the iris is dark brown or black, in adults it is yellow or orange.
The body is stocky, about 30-35 cm long; the weight varies, according to the subspecies, from 250 to 500 g.
The average life is 30 years.
Supply
Most of the eclipse diet must include fresh vegetables (various types of fruit, leafy vegetables, dandelions), with the addition of pelleted feed for parrots (without chemical additives), cooked rice and legumes and a modest amount of seeds . A diet of this type does not need any integration. Diets based on seed mixtures cause vitamin A deficiency problems, resulting in health problems and reduced life expectancy.
Avocado should not be offered because it is toxic to parrots. The grit is superfluous and should not be offered.