Bird Guide

Moluccan Eclectus

Eclectus roratus

Least ConcernOmnivoreForestCavity nestLarge · 481 g

About the Moluccan Eclectus

The Moluccan eclectus is a parrot native to the Maluku Islands (Moluccas). It is unusual in the parrot order for its extreme sexual dimorphism of the colours of the plumage; the male having a mostly bright emerald green plumage and the female a mostly bright red and purple/blue plumage. Joseph Forshaw, in his book Parrots of the World, noted that the first European ornithologists to see eclectus parrots thought they were of two distinct species. Large populations of this parrot remain, and they are sometimes considered pests for eating fruit off trees. Some populations restricted to relatively small islands are comparably rare. Their bright feathers are also used by native tribespeople in…

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

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The Moluccan eclectus is unusual in the parrot family for its marked visible light sexual dimorphism in the colours of the plumage. A stocky short-tailed parrot, it measures around 35 cm (14 in) in length. The male is mostly bright green with a yellow-tinge on the head. It has blue primaries, and red flanks and underwing coverts. Its tail is edged with a narrow band of creamy yellow and is dark grey edged with creamy yellow underneath, and the tail feathers are green centrally and bluer as they get towards the edges.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Moluccan Eclectus lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Germany.

When to see the Moluccan Eclectus

Peak activity in July · a variable species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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