Moluccan Eclectus

Overview

The Moluccan eclectus (Eclectus roratus) is a stocky parrot native to the Maluku Islands, notable for its extreme sexual dimorphism in plumage colour. Classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, large populations remain, though some island-restricted subspecies are comparatively rare.

Identification

• A short-tailed parrot measuring around 35 cm in length with a stout build.
• Males are predominantly bright emerald green with yellow tinges on the head, blue primaries, and red flanks and underwing coverts; their upper mandible is orange fading to yellow, while the lower is black.
• Females are mostly bright red with darker backs and wings, often featuring purple or mauve-blue edges on the wings and yellowish-orange tail edges; their beaks are entirely black.
• Adults possess yellow to orange irises, whereas juveniles have dark brown to black irises.

Habitat

Native to the Maluku Islands, this species nests within the hollows of large, emergent rainforest trees. Suitable nesting hollows are a premium resource, prompting females to defend their specific tree vigorously and remain resident for up to 11 months of the year.

Diet

In the wild, the diet consists mainly of fruits, wild figs, unripe nuts, flower and leaf buds, and some seeds. The species possesses an unusually long digestive tract that allows it to tolerate a high-fibre diet, while in captivity they benefit from formulated pellets supplemented with fruits, vegetables, and limited seeds.

Did you know?

Eclectus parrots are polygynandrous, a breeding strategy where females may mate with multiple males who travel up to 20 km to forage and compete for the right to feed her via regurgitation. This unique system may explain the pronounced sexual dimorphism, as the red female remains conspicuous at the nest entrance to advertise her presence but hides effectively in the dark interior, while the green male is camouflaged during foraging.