Habitat

They make their home in the rainforest’s canopy, tree clumps in savannahs and eucalypt woodlands.

Reproduction

Breeding takes place between July and January. Mating pairs do not stay together for their entire life and birds will regularly get a new mate. Males pursue females by making an excited squawking call.

Nesting takes place in a tree hollow which sits in a clearing or at the edge of the forest. This is lined with wood chips on which the eggs are laid.

Following the successful laying of an egg it takes 26 days for it to hatch. A pair of white eggs are laid. While the female incubates the egg she is fed by the male. Both parents tend to the chick with assistance from previous offspring.

At hatching their skin is covered with short, thick bristles that across a 3 day period will become grey down. Once these colour up it is possible to determine the bird’s gender.

It takes 11-12 weeks for the chicks to fledge. It will be another 2-3 years before they are sexually mature.

Behavior

Eclectus parrots live in small flocks or pairs. During the day they flock to a feeding site with the size of flocks which gather there being determined by how many fruit trees are available. At night they may roost in groups of up to 80.

Predators of the eclectus parrot include possums, birds of prey and introduced species such as wild dogs.

Sounds made by the eclectus parrot include a chuckling and bell like noise. When feeding they make a ‘chu-wee’ noise and will screech while in flight.

Quick facts

In New Guinea their feathers are used as decorations by the local people.

The first scientists to encounter the male and female eclectus parrot believed they were separate species due to them being so different in appearance.