Eclectus Parrot Pair
Species Overview
The Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus in the broad traditional sense; some authorities now split it into several species) comes from New Guinea, the Moluccas, the Solomon Islands and far northern Australia. Adults are about 35-42 cm (14-17 in) long, weigh roughly 350-550 g depending on subspecies, and commonly live 30-40 years. Few parrots show such striking colour differences between the sexes: males are bright green, females red with blue or purple. This listing is a male and female pair. Keeping a pair means planning for hormonal behaviour, a hen that is often dominant and possible breeding, on top of a diet built mainly on fresh vegetables and fruit.
Hen-guarded tree hollows of New Guinea and nearby islands
Eclectus Parrots live in lowland rainforest and forest edges across New Guinea, the Moluccas, the Solomon Islands, Sumba, the Tanimbar Islands and the tip of Cape York in Australia. Their breeding system is unusual. Suitable nest hollows high in tall rainforest trees are scarce, and a hen may spend most of the year at or near her hollow, defending it against other females. Males range widely to forage and bring food back to her, and a hen may be fed by several males. This background helps explain why captive hens are often territorial and nest-focused, and why males tend to be the more easy-going sex.
Green males, red hens: size, weight and lifespan
Adults measure about 35-42 cm (14-17 in) and weigh roughly 350-550 g, depending on subspecies. Males are bright green with red flanks and underwings and an orange-yellow upper beak. Females are red, with blue or purple on the breast, belly or mantle depending on subspecies, and a black beak. The colours are so different that the sexes were once described as separate species. Sexing needs no DNA test: the colour shows as soon as the first feathers emerge in the nest. Lifespans of 30-40 years are commonly reported for well-kept birds, so with a pair you are planning for two long lives.
Quiet observers with loud moments: who should not keep a pair
Eclectus are generally calm and watchful rather than boisterous, but they are not quiet: both sexes have harsh, loud calls, especially at dawn and dusk. Many learn to talk clearly, although birds kept as a pair usually talk less and remain less focused on people than single pets. Hens tend to be more assertive and territorial, particularly around perceived nest sites, and may bite; males are usually gentler but can be bullied by the hen. A pair is unsuitable for flats with close neighbours, for people who want a cuddly single pet, for households unable to supply large amounts of fresh food daily, or for anyone unprepared to manage breeding behaviour.
Space for two, with room to avoid each other
For a pair, treat 200 x 100 x 180 cm (79 x 39 x 71 in, W x D x H) as a minimum indoor enclosure; an aviary of 3 m length or more with a frost-free shelter is better, because Eclectus fly well and need space to keep out of each other's way when the hen is hormonal. Use bars 2-2.5 cm apart and wire of at least 3 mm, never galvanised mesh. Provide at least two separate feeding and water stations and several perch areas at similar height, so the hen cannot control access to food. Fit no nest box or dark enclosed spaces unless you intend to breed. In Germany, also check the federal minimum-standards guidance.
Fresh food first, heavily fortified food last
Eclectus are traditionally fed more fresh food than most parrots. A practical base is a large daily portion of vegetables and fruit, for example sweet potato, carrot, red pepper, squash, broccoli, leafy greens, pomegranate, papaya and mango, plus sprouted seeds or pulses and some cooked grains. Pellets can make up a smaller part; many keepers choose unfortified or lightly fortified brands without artificial colours. Keep dry seed mixes and fatty nuts limited. Do not add vitamin or mineral supplements unless an avian vet prescribes them, because over-supplementation is widely associated with problems in this genus. Offer fresh food twice daily and remove leftovers before they spoil.
Daily time for a pair: less handling, more observation
A pair keeps each other company, but that does not reduce the work. Allow several hours of flight every day, in an aviary or supervised in a bird-safe room, and budget time for preparing fresh food twice a day and for cleaning, as fresh-food diets produce wetter droppings. Provide chewable softwood, palm leaves and foraging trays that both birds can use without competing. Watch the pair's interactions every day: persistent chasing, a male kept away from food or perches, or feather damage on either bird means the setup needs changing. Short individual sessions with each bird keep both manageable for veterinary handling.
CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B: papers for a pair
Eclectus roratus is listed on CITES Appendix II and in Annex B of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation (EC) No 338/97. No Article 10 certificate is needed to buy or sell within the EU, but each bird should come with written proof of legal origin that includes its individual ring or microchip number; keep these documents for both birds. Moving birds into or out of the EU requires CITES permits. In Germany, many protected species must be reported to the local nature conservation authority; ask whether this applies to you. If the pair breeds, the young also need proof of legal origin and, where required, marking before they are passed on.
Training & Enrichment
Eclectus are calm, food-motivated and take well to positive reinforcement, though they work at a more deliberate pace than many parrots and dislike being rushed. With a pair, train each bird separately and briefly, ideally out of sight of the other, so the hen does not guard the male or the food. Target and station training are worthwhile, as is cooperative-care work such as voluntary scale-stepping and foot presentation, because decades of veterinary care are far easier with birds that do not need restraint. Avoid body petting entirely, particularly with the hen, because it drives reproductive behaviour. Accept that a bonded pair will usually focus more on each other than on you.
Health Considerations
Toe-tapping and wing-flicking are widely reported in Eclectus and are commonly linked by avian vets to heavily fortified foods and vitamin supplements; if you see them, review the diet with an avian vet rather than adding anything. In a pair, reproductive disease in the hen is the main concern: chronic egg laying, egg binding and related problems occur with long day length, rich food and nest-like spaces. Feather damage in either bird needs a veterinary workup, as causes range from diet and hormones to husbandry. Chicks reared at low humidity can develop constricted toe syndrome. Quarantine any new bird for 30-45 days with screening for PBFD, avian bornavirus and Chlamydia psittaci, weigh both birds weekly and book annual avian examinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Well-kept Eclectus commonly live 30-40 years, and some live longer. With a pair, that means two birds that may each live for decades, and the pair bond is not easily replaced if one dies. Plan for their long-term care in writing, and remember that diet and early veterinary attention to the hen's reproductive problems strongly influence how long they live.
For two birds, at least 200 x 100 x 180 cm (79 x 39 x 71 in, W x D x H), with bars 2-2.5 cm apart and wire of 3 mm or more. An aviary at least 3 m long with a frost-free shelter is better. Provide two separate feeding stations and plenty of perches so the hen cannot block the male's access to food, and avoid galvanised mesh.
They are calmer than many parrots but produce harsh, loud calls, especially in the morning and evening, and are not suited to thin-walled flats. Many single pet Eclectus become clear talkers. Birds kept as a pair tend to talk less and focus on each other, which is natural and not a failure of the owner. Choose a pair for the company they give each other, not for speech.
Not as a first parrot. A pair needs a large enclosure, a diet based on fresh food prepared twice daily, careful management of the hen's hormonal and territorial behaviour, and a clear decision on whether breeding is wanted. People with some parrot experience and a realistic view of the daily workload are much better placed to keep a pair successfully.
They usually bond and, once mature, try to breed. Hens often become territorial and may dominate or chase the male, especially near anything resembling a nest. If you do not intend to breed, provide no nest box, avoid dark hiding places, keep day length moderate and make sure the male can reach food. If you do breed, you take responsibility for rearing, papers and finding suitable homes.
