Eclectus Parrots
Parrots are often the preferred species of birds sought after by many pet enthusiasts all over the world. Eclectus parrots in particular are a species of parrot which has become favorites of many pet owners due to their exquisite coloring and unmatchable intelligence.
Eclectus parrots are thus named due to their eclectic and vibrant coloring. This interesting color scheme is called a sexually dimorphic one. This parrot species is considered to be the one species where the different color schemes between the males and the females are most prominent. Female Eclectus parrots are bright red while the males possess gorgeous plumage of emerald green. Due to this particular reason of the different color schemes, the males and the females were thought to be from two entirely different species until the 20th century.
Eclectus parrots along with its many subspecies are found in Australia, The Solomon Islands, Indonesia and New Guinea. In its natural habitat, Eclectus parrots are found nesting in the hollows of large emergent trees within rainforests. The females are often extremely protective of their cage and will even take a fight to the death to prove its ownership.
As pets, Eclectus parrots are known to live for many years. Since they are highly intelligent, they can be trained to perform tricks as well as to talk. Eclectus parrots are among the top three talking parrot species in the world. They have been known to mimic human voices as well as other sounds that they can hear. The behavior of these lovely birds is not much different from that of other species of parrots. Eclectus parrots will also require a lot of attention and will become loyal and lovable pets with time and proper training. When ignored or not given enough attention, Eclectus parrots can develop bad habits such as retreating to corners, becoming moody, chewing on furniture and displaying aggression. Since these birds spend a lot of time stretching their wings and flying, a cage would be a drastic change for them. As an owner, it is necessary to spend plenty of time with the birds to build up trust and to create a solid relationship with them rather than locking them up in a cage.
When it comes to food, Eclectus parrots eat fruits, seeds and nuts. But in a domestic environment, they might show a liking to certain human foods. To keep these birds well nourished, it is necessary to keep them in a diet consisting of fruits such as mangoes, bananas, figs, melons, grapes and apples. Bear in mind that since Eclectus parrots possess a long digestive tract, they need to be kept on a high fiber diet to make sure that they will not develop health problems.
