Solomon
Island Eclectus Parrot
The
Ellen Trout Zoo is now home to a pair of Solomon Island Eclectus
Parrots. This is one of the smallest subspecies (about 12 inches in
length) but that’s not the most interesting thing about them.
Eclectus Parrots are one of the few species of parrot that
demonstrate sexual dimorphism.
What that means is that males and
females are different colors. This is seen in many other types of
birds including the peafowl that roam the zoo (brilliant blue males
and dull brown females) and the cardinals in your back yard
(brilliant red male and dull brownish female). A second unusual
fact about the coloring of Eclectus Parrots is that it is the female
that is the bright color and the male that is more subdued; the
reverse of what is commonly seen in other birds. Female Eclectus
Parrots are predominantly red while males are predominantly green.
Male and female coloring is so different
that they were originally believed to be two species. The name
Eclectus comes from the word “eclectic” which means “from various
sources”. This refers to the disparate colors of the male and
female.
Come out to the Zoo and welcome Georgie
and Cherry.
