Eclectus parrot

Description

The males and females have such great sexual differences that they were initially classified as different species. The males have a coral coloured beak, and green plumage with red and blue on the wings and the tail. The females have a black beak, red plumage on the head and the tail, and blue plumage on the chest and neck.

Ethology

Diurnal birds which live in pairs or small groups. The females are usually the dominant gender and have a very strong reproductive instinct. They use large holes in trees as nests. Two eggs are usually laid which the female will incubate for 26 days. Both parents care for the chicks. The young leave the nest 11 or 12 weeks after hatching. In captivity they have lived up to 80 years.

Interesting facts

Overall, they are not threatened. However, as with all psittacidae, they have been subject to extensive illegal trade, their populations suffering a great decline in some regions.