Avicultural Library - Eclectuses

The Eclectus Parrot

by Dr. Rob Marshall & Tailai O’Brien

2025, 742pp, ISBN: 9780646710747

Have you ever read a book where you're given the option to rate it on a scale from 1 to 10, but you feel like even a 10 isn't enough? Well, this is that book!

The Eclectus Parrot by Dr. Rob Marshall & Tailai O’Brien is the result of twenty years of solid research and over forty years of meetings with experts, including aviculturists who have decades of experience on keeping and breeding this species and behavior ecologists who have conducted multi-years field research on breeding behaviors of wild eclectus parrots.

This title is really comprehensive and deals with topics ranging from origins to conservation and hand rearing to diseases of eclectus parrots.

There are total nine sections comprising 26 chapters. Book starts with section one which deals with all species and subspecies while discussing key features and attributes of every single bird (both sexes) being discussed including range maps. Next comes color index which provides visual representation of colors that are used for identification purposes, containing excellent color chart and schemes.

Chapter four contains species and subspecies identification system with beautifully illustrated Male and Female identifying guides. Photography in this title is exceptional that skillfully aids in identifying often tricky subspecies that resemble same.

Section 2 covers field research on Australian Eclectus subspecies including its diet in the wild, habitat and breeding behavior. Next comes in-depth sections of captive diet and conservation while discussing wild status of all species and subspecies.

Section 5 deals with keeping, breeding and conservation of eclectus parrots in aviculture while explaining proper living conditions, breeding success and best practice breeding protocols. Section 6 and 7 deals with hand rearing and eclectus parrots as companions respectively.

Next comes Section 8, which offers a thorough and comprehensive exploration of the various diseases that can affect Eclectus parrots. It covers everything from common nutritional deficiencies to more complex feather problems, providing a well-rounded understanding of the health challenges these beautiful birds may face.

Last section covers behavioral disorders of Eclectus parrots in captivity explaining their causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention strategies. In the end, there is appendix of recommended foods, their rankings, health remedies, treatment and recovery plan.

The only thing missing from this title is information on the various Eclectus parrot mutations present in aviculture today — a notable absence, given the comprehensiveness of the book. However, there is mention of a wild yellow mutation collected in 1862, along with its photo.

Recommendation:

Richly illustrated throughout with charts, tables, figures and excellent photography, this is a MUST HAVE title, not only for keepers, breeders and lovers of Eclectus parrots but also for avian veterinarians and everyone who is interested to know about this beautiful species of psittacine.

You can buy it from the following website :

https://www.birdhealth.com.au/product-page/i-m-a-product-8