Eclectus Parrots - Sub-species Identification

Female Eclectus

Eclectus Parrots - Sub-species Identification

Eclectus Information (Personality, Care, Diet, Subspecies)

 

The following information and photos (unless stated otherwise) are copyrighted and have been reproduced with the permission of the owner of the material: Dr. Rob Marshall - an avian vet and bird breeder in Australia, and author of "A Guide to Eclectus Parrots as Pet and Aviary Birds".

 
 

In Australia, the most frequently kept Eclectus parrot subspecies are hybrids of the

Female Vosmaeri Eclectus Parrot In America, the most commonly kept sub-species are the:

In Europe, the most commonly kept sub-species are:

 
 

Identification of the subspecies is challenging in the female and almost impossible in the male without knowledge of the area of origin or domestic breeding history.

 

Male Identification

 

Female Identification

Females of the different subspecies may be distinguished from each other by differences in size and colour. It is Dr Rob Marshall's view that identification of Eclectus hens is made easier when the subspecies are divided into three groups:

Hen classification of some of the subspecies remains difficult without knowledge of their geographic origins.

Purple Group
Grand Eclectus    E.r. roratus
Vosmaeri Eclectus    E.r. vosmaeri
 
Red Group
Reideli's Eclectus    E.r. riedeli
Cornelia's Eclectus    E.r. cornelia
Blue Group
Red-sided Eclectus    E.r. polychlores
Solomon Island Eclectus    E.r. solomonensis
Australian Eclectus    E.r. macgillivrayi
Aruensis Eclectus    E.r. aruensis
Biaki Eclectus    E.r. biaki
 

BLUE (POLYCHLORUS) GROUP

Females of the Blue (polychlorus) group have a blue eye ring, blue breast colour and lack yellow in their plumage.

Blue-eye ring visible in the "Blue" groupThere are five subspecies in the Blue (polychlorus) group:

  1. Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus solomonensis)
  2. New Guinea Red-sided Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus polychloros)
  3. Australian Eclectus Parrot - also known as Queensland Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus macgillivrayi)
  4. Aru Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus aruensis)
  5. Biak Island Eclectus Parrot ( Eclectus roratus biaki)

Some consider Aru Island Eclectus (E.r.aruensis) and Biak Island Eclectus (E.r. biaki) to be variations of the New Guinea Eclectus (E.r. polychlorus).

 

Eclectus Female ComparisonPURPLE (RORATUS) GROUP

There are two subspecies in the Purple (roratus) group:

  1. Grand Eclectus (E.r. roratus)
  2. Vosmaer's Eclectus (E.r. vosmaeri).

These subspecies have no blue eye ring. The different colour purple of the chest feathers readily distinguishes one from the other. E.r. roratus has a purple colored breast and dark maroon colored wings. E.r. vosmaeri is brighter colored than E.r. roratus. The breast is pretty lavender (pale purple) and wings are a fire engine red colour.

 

RED (CORNELIA / RIEDELI) GROUP

There are two subspecies in the Red group:

  1. Tanimbar Island (Reideli) Eclectus (E. r. riedeli)
  2. Sumba Island (Cornelia) Eclectus (E.r. cornelia)

Both these subspecies are entirely red. E.r. cornelia is larger but has no yellow on the tail contrary to E. r. riedeli.

 

Size Differences Amongst Eclectus Species

Sub-species - starting with the largest species in cm in inches
Macgillivray or Australian Eclectus, Eclectus roratus macgillivrayi 37 cm 14.5 in
Cornelia’s Eclectus, Eclectus roratus cornelia 35.50 cm 14 in
Vosmaeri Eclectus, Eclectus roratus vosmaeri 34 – 35 cm 13.4 - 13.8 in
Aru Island Eclectus Parrot or Aruensis Eclectus, Eclectus roratus aruensis 34 – 35 cm 13.4 - 13.8 in
Red-sided Eclectus, Eclectus roratus polychloros 33 – 34 cm 13 - 13.4 in
Solomon Island Eclectus, Eclectus roratus solomonensis 30.5 – 33 cm 12 - 13 in
Biaki Eclectus, Eclectus roratus biaki 31.75 cm 12.5
Grand Eclectus, Eclectus roratus roratus 30.5 cm 12 in
Westermani Eclectus, Eclectus roratus westermani (validity of this sub-species disputed) 29.25 cm 11.5 in
Riedeli’s Eclectus, Eclectus roratus riedeli 29.25 cm 11.5 in

Eclectus Roratus Female Identification

  Grand Red-Sided Solomon Island Vosmaeri
Size 12 inches / 30.5 cm 13 inches / 33 – 34 cm 12 - 13 inches / 30.5 – 33 cm 13 inches / 34 – 35 cm
Weight
(Younger birds generally weigh less than birds that are over 2 years old)

Female: 375 g
(Male: 415 g - 433 g)

 Females: 380 g - 427g
(Male: 376g - 526g)

Female: 390 g - 430g
(Male: 350g - 400g)

 Female: 366 g -460 g
(Male: 398g - 455g)
Blue Eye Ring Absent Present Present Absent
Breast Color Light Purple Royal Blue Royal Blue Light Purple
Tail / Tail Tip Bright red with (yellow-end orange tip Red Red Broad yellow tip
Vent Red Red Red Yellow
(can have some touches of red)

Eclectus Species

 

Vosmaeri, and Solomon Island Eclectuses (Shades of Red and Green Eclectus Website)

 
 

Queensland Eclectus MaleMale Identification

Identification of the males from most subspecies remains difficult and relies upon differences in size and shade of green of the plumage. Both size and depth of green however may vary considerably within the same subspecies.

Male Eclectus are difficult to distinguish into species with the exception of macgillivrayi, riedeli and westermani.

  • Macgillivrayi is large and long with a distinctive broad square head.
  • Riedeli and Westermani are smaller and have distinct features.

Variation between individuals of the same sub-species also creates complication in identification.

Further classification difficulties arise because interbreeding of subspecies has been common in the past. As a result, confusion often arises when attempting to identify the exact sub-species of captive bred Eclectus Parrots.

Male Eclectus

 

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