Tail Feather Identification

Here you will find images of tail feathers from all of the nine known subspecies of the Eclectus Parrot.

This section has been added to assist in the identifying of subspecies. This, as most of us know can be a difficult task. Also included are images of tail feathers taken from crossbred birds for comparison.

The subspecies

Image No:

  1. Grand Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus roratus. These tail feathers are from the Grand Eclectus (nominate race), location: Ambon and Seram, Indonesia. Tail feather length 5.75 inches (146mm).
  2. Vosmaer’s Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus vosmaeri. The second subspecies is found on the island of Halmahera in the Northern Maluku, Indonesia. Tail feather length 6.5 inches (165mm).
  3. Tanimbar Island Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus riedeli. This is the rarest of the nine known subspecies and is only found on the island of Tanimbar, Indonesia. Tail feather length 5 inches (127mm).
  4. Cornelia’s Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus cornelia. The Cornelia’s Eclectus Parrot is the 2nd rarest subspecies. The overall red appearance of the female of this subspecies is quite unique. Found on the island of Sumba, Indonesia. Tail feather length 6.25 inches (158.7 mm).
  5. Aru Island Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus aruensis. The Aru Island Eclectus is the first of the subspecies where the female has the blue feathering around the eyes. Found on the Indonesian Island of Aru. Tail feather length 6.38 inches (162 mm).
  6. Biak Island Eclectus Eclectus roratus biaki. The Biak Island Eclectus is smaller than other members of this group at 35cm it had a dainty appearance. Tail feather length 5.38 inches (136.5 mm).
  7. New Guinea Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus polychloros. The New Guinea Eclectus is the most common of the nine subspecies. It is also the most common Eclectus in aviculture today. Tail feather length 5.78 inches (149.2 mm).
  8. Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus solomonensis. The Solomon Island is the smallest subspecies of Eclectus Parrot. Tail feather length 5 inches (127 mm).
  9. Australian Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus macgillivrayi. The Australian Eclectus Parrot is the largest member of this group. Tail feather length 7 Inches (177.8 mm).

Crossbred and comparison images

Image No:

  1. Crossbred between Vosmaer’s x Polychloros x Grand Eclectus: This example is a cross between three subspecies. The father was a cross between Eclectus roratus vosmaeri and Eclectus roratus polychloros and the mother was a Grand Eclectus, Eclectus roratus roratus.
  2. Difference between crossbred and pure bred male tail feathers: This example shows the difference in size between a cross bred New Guinea Eclectus compared to the pure bred New Guinea and Australian Eclectus in the aviaries in Australia.
  3. Crossbred between New Guinea Eclectus and the Solomon Island Eclectus: This example shows the difference in size of the tail feathers from birds bred from the pairing of New Guinea Eclectus and the Solomon Island Eclectus.

Caption 001: Grand Eclectus Parrot. Note: These tail feathers are from the Grand Eclectus (nominate race), location: Ambon and Seram, Indonesia. Tail feather length 5.75 inches (146mm).

Caption 002: Vosmaer’s Eclectus Parrot. Note: This second subspecies is found on the island of Halmahera in the Northern Maluku, Indonesia. Tail feather length 6.5 inches (165mm).

Caption 003: Cornelia’s Eclectus Parrot. Note: The Cornelia’s Eclectus Parrot is the 2nd rarest subspecies. The overall red appearance of the female of this subspecies is quite unique. Found on the island of Sumba, Indonesia. Tail feather length 6.25 inches (158.7 mm).

Caption 004: Tanimbar Island Eclectus Parrot. Note: This is the rarest of the nine known subspecies and is only found on the island of Tanimbar, Indonesia. Tail feather length 5 inches (127mm).

Caption 005: Aru Island Eclectus Parrot. Note: The Aru Island Eclectus is the 1st of the subspecies where the female has the blue feathering around the eyes. Found on the Indonesian Island of Aru. Tail feather length 6.38 inches (162 mm).

Caption 006: Biak Island Eclectus Parrot. Note: The Biak Island Eclectus is smaller than other members of this group at 35cm it had a dainty appearance. Tail feather length 5.38 inches (136.5 mm).

Caption 007: New Guinea Eclectus Parrot. Note: The New Guinea Eclectus is the most common of the nine subspecies. It is also the most common Eclectus in aviculture today. Tail feather length 5.78 inches (149.2 mm).

Caption 008: Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot. Note: The Solomon Island is the smallest subspecies of Eclectus Parrot. Tail feather length 5 inches (127 mm).

Caption 009: Australian Eclectus Parrot. Note: The Australian Eclectus Parrot is the largest member of this group. Tail feather length 7 inches (177.8 mm).

Caption 010: Cross-bred Eclectus-vosmaer’s x polychloros x Grand. Note: This example is a cross between three subspecies. The father was a cross between a vosmaer’s and a polychloros and the mother was a Grand Eclectus.

Caption 011: Difference between cross-bred and purebred males. Note: This example shows the difference in size between a cross bred New Guinea Eclectus compared to the pure bred New Guinea and Australian Eclectus in the aviaries in Australia.

Caption 012: Cross-bred between polychloros and solomonensis. Note: This example shows the difference in size of the tail feathers, of a cross between the New Guinea Eclectus and the Solomon Island Eclectus.