The Eclectus Group: hen comparison table

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Compiled by Pat and Gene Novak and Eclectus Group board members using the following references: Parrots of the World by John Forshaw, Parrots: Their Care and Breeding by Rosemary Low; A Guide to Eclectus Parrots by Australian Birdkeeper; The Eclectus--A Complete Guide by Roger Sweeney; A Complete Guide to Eclectus Parrots by K.Wayne Arthur, Fred Bauer, and Laurella Desborough; Parrots and Related Birds by Bates and Busenbach.

There are ten named Eclectus subspecies. Some authorities recognize only seven. This chart compares six found in U.S. aviculture.

* Feather color characteristics are listed for adult female Eclectus parrots. Females under one and half years old, or prior to the first moult often exhibit 'juvenile plumage' which can have unique characteristics that disappear after the first moult. (Example: the under wing color may be red instead of the color of the mantle and breast.) L.D.

Grand

Eclectus roratus roratus

Red-sided

E.r. polychlos

Vosmaeri

E.r. vosmaeri

Solomon Isl.

E.r. solomonensis

Biaki

E.r. biaki

Aru

E.r. aruensis

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12"

440-475gms 13-13.5"

475-540gms 13.5-14"

300-400gms 12-13"

12.5"

13.5-14"

Eye ring

no

yes

no

yes

Eyes

yellowish white

creamy white

light whitish gold to deep gold

creamy white

Body

stocky

elongated

stocky compact

stocky

stocky but longer than E.r.p.

General Appearance

darker and duller than polychloros or vosmaeri

bright red head and bib, royal blue breast

bright red head and upper body blending into lavender breast

when wings are folded, longer wing tips almost reach tail tip

smaller than E.r.p but larger than solomon

larger and longer overall than E.r.p. with longer tail

Head

dark red appears slightly flattened at back

light bright red

deep scarlet slightly flattened head at back top of skull

deep scarlet small and perfectly round

bright red

Neck to upper breast

red neck

red of head and neck extend down to the blue at mid-breast

red from head blends with lavender breast.

deep scarlet shorter than E.r.p.

Bib

red bib

no defined bib

red bib

large red bib

Bib to lower breast feathers

distinct separation between red bib and dark bright shiny purple breast

distinct separation between red bib and royal blue breast

Red from head blends with lavender breast

distinct separation between red bib and blue breast

same as E.r.p.

Larger bib, smaller blue area than polychloros

Mantle/ nape /collar

purple/lavender

narrow royal blue collar starts at back base of neck

broad lavender mantle, widest at midpoint of back, where it broadens up to back of head.

same as E.r.p.

Back & upper wing coverts

*dark maroon primaries. dark burgundy secondaries

*deep maroon red

burgundy

burgundy extends to thighs

*burgundy red

Thigh feathers

same as back/body color

Under tail coverts

red with orange tips

bright deep red

yellow

bright deep red

Tail

4"

5" dark red base, bright red tip

long 5.5" tail with wide yellow band

short 4" almost even with folded wing tips

longer than E.r.p.

Upper tail

dark red/burgundy as upper back

bright red

dark red/burgundy as upper back

Tail band

dark red blending into dusty orange at tip, 1/8 orangish

one inch band, color generally pure bright light red, occasionally pink-red or orange-red

1-2" band of bright buttercup yellow

same as E.r.p.

same as E.r.p

same as E.r.p.

Note: According to an article in AFA Watch Bird May/June 1996 by George Cave, MacGillivray's Eclectus weighs approx 587g male and 577g female. They look much like E.r.polychloros except for size.

Adult hen comparison chart
. Compiled by Pat and Gene Novak and Eclectus Group board members using the following references: Parrots of the World by John Forshaw, Parrots: Their Care and Breeding by Rosemary Low; A Guide to Eclectus Parrots by Australian Birdkeeper; The Eclectus--A Complete Guide by Roger Sweeney; A Complete Guide to Eclectus Parrots by K.Wayne Arthur, Fred Bauer, and Laurella Desborough; Parrots and Related Birds by Bates and Busenbach. There are ten named Eclectus subspecies. Some authorities recognize only seven. This chart compares six found in U.S. aviculture. * Feather color characteristics are listed for adult female Eclectus parrots. Females under one and half years old, or prior to the first moult often exhibit 'juvenile plumage' which can have unique characteristics that disappear after the first moult. (Example: the under wing color may be red instead of the color of the mantle and breast.) L.D.
	Grand Eclectus roratus roratus	Red-sided E.r. polychlos	Vosmaeri E.r. vosmaeri	Solomon Isl. E.r. solomonensis	Biaki E.r. biaki	Aru E.r. aruensis
.	12"	440-475gms 13-13.5"	475-540gms 13.5-14"	300-400gms 12-13"	12.5"	13.5-14"
Eye ring	no	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
Eyes	yellowish white	creamy white	light whitish gold to deep gold	creamy white	creamy white	creamy white
Body	stocky	stocky	elongated	stocky compact	stocky	stocky but longer than E.r.p.
General Appearance	darker and duller than polychloros or vosmaeri	bright red head and bib, royal blue breast	bright red head and upper body blending into lavender breast	when wings are folded, longer wing tips almost reach tail tip	smaller than E.r.p but larger than solomon	larger and longer overall than E.r.p. with longer tail
Head	dark red appears slightly flattened at back	light bright red	deep scarlet slightly flattened head at back top of skull	deep scarlet small and perfectly round	bright red	bright red
Neck to upper breast	red neck	red of head and neck extend down to the blue at mid-breast	red from head blends with lavender breast.	deep scarlet shorter than E.r.p.
Bib	red bib	red bib	no defined bib	red bib	red bib	large red bib
Bib to lower breast feathers	distinct separation between red bib and dark bright shiny purple breast	distinct separation between red bib and royal blue breast	Red from head blends with lavender breast	distinct separation between red bib and blue breast	same as E.r.p.	Larger bib, smaller blue area than polychloros
Mantle/ nape /collar	purple/lavender	narrow royal blue collar starts at back base of neck	broad lavender mantle, widest at midpoint of back, where it broadens up to back of head.	same as E.r.p.	same as E.r.p.	same as E.r.p.
Back & upper wing coverts	*dark maroon primaries. dark burgundy secondaries	*deep maroon red	burgundy	burgundy extends to thighs	*burgundy red	*burgundy red
Thigh feathers	same as back/body color	same as back/body color	same as back/body color	same as back/body color	same as back/body color	same as back/body color
Under tail coverts	red with orange tips	bright deep red	yellow	bright deep red	bright deep red	bright deep red
Tail	4"	5" dark red base, bright red tip	long 5.5" tail with wide yellow band	short 4" almost even with folded wing tips		longer than E.r.p.
Upper tail	dark red/burgundy as upper back	dark red/burgundy as upper back	bright red	dark red/burgundy as upper back	dark red/burgundy as upper back	dark red/burgundy as upper back
Tail band	dark red blending into dusty orange at tip, 1/8 orangish	one inch band, color generally pure bright light red, occasionally pink-red or orange-red	1-2" band of bright buttercup yellow	same as E.r.p.	same as E.r.p	same as E.r.p.
	Note: According to an article in AFA Watch Bird May/June 1996 by George Cave, MacGillivray's Eclectus weighs approx 587g male and 577g female. They look much like E.r.polychloros except for size.