It was not until 1913 that the Eclectus parrot was discovered in Australia, in the rainforests of the Cape York Peninsula. Eclectus is a genus of parrots, the Psittaciformes, also known as the Red-sided Parrot and the Rocky River Parrot. Over the past century, the Eclectus parrot has been known from other regions of its range to the north of Australia. A Clectus parrot’s size is about 435-450 mm, including a short square tail. The average life span of Eclectus Parrort is 30 to 40 years.
Indeed, its remarkable sexual dimorphism had caused endless confusion. Eclectus parrots are birds of the forest canopy and spend much of the day in the trees, feeding on berries and other fruit, nuts, seeds, and blossoms. They are noisy, conspicuous birds, and their loud, raucous cries echo through the rainforest. In the early morning, pairs and small parties leave the roosting trees and move out into the surrounding forest to feed.
They are wary and, when disturbed, fly off or circle high overhead, screeching loudly. The return flights to the roosting trees begin towards dusk; as each group comes in, it joins in the screeching and squawking, which continues on until after nightfall. Parrots are strong fliers, and on long flights-such as to and from the roosting trees-they fly high above the treetops. Their flight is direct, with measured, bat-like wing beats never rising above the horizontal.
Eclectus Parrots indulge in mutual preening and in display, the male slowly bobs and dips his head. He also feeds the female then and regularly later when she incubates. Both parents care for the chicks, and seem to be helped in the task: reports state that up to eight birds of both sexes attend the nests. The Eclectus Parrot’s contact call in flight is a harsh, screeching kraach-kraak repeated several times. While feeding, the birds occasionally utter a two-syllable wailing cry, or a mellow, horn-like chu-wee chu-wee; Zaller is likewise occasionally given in flight. Also, there are varieties of chuckling and bell-like sounds.
MALE: General plumage is emerald green. The bend of the wing is blue; the primaries are blue; the underwing coverts and sides of the belly are rich scarlet. Central tail feathers are green tipped with blue; outer tail feathers are blue tipped with white. The underside of the tail is dusky in color and tipped in dull yellow. Their eyes are orange. The upper mandible is coral, lower black. Feet and toes are mid-grey; claws are black.
Female Eclectus Parrot’s general plumage is vivid red, darker, and duller on the back and wings. The fine blue line around the eye. Blue collar across the mantle. The wing bend and underwing coverts are brilliant blue; the primary colors are deep bluish. Moreover, there is a broad violet-blue band across the belly. The tail is red with orange tips. Eyes are pale yellow with dark outer rings. The bill is black. Feet and toes as a male. The immature bird resembles an adult. For both sexes, the bill is dark brown-grey, becoming dusky yellow towards the tip. The downy young is sooty-grey.
Nesting occurs in July-January. A nest is a big 50 cm to 6 m deep hole in the trunk of a tall tree. It is at the edge of or in a clearing in the forest. Eggs: two; white; rounded, 41-42 x 33 mm. It is laid on a lining of chips and decaying wood dust. The incubation period is 25–26 days for females. Chicks leave the nest about 11–12 weeks after hatching.
Eclectus Parrot is found in the rainforests of Eastern Cape York Peninsula, from Pascoe River south to Massey Creek and inland to Mellwraith Range. Also widely distributed from the Solomon Islands west through New Guinea to the Moluccas. There is one endemic race in Australia, distinguished by the large size and dull emerald tone of males.
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