Natural habitat and mating habits
An Idea is Born
Eclectus will often wait till just after the rainy season (early dry season) and choose a nest in a decaying tree 18-20ish meters above the ground on the edge of the forest.
A Home is Secured
The prefer a small opening, but extremely deep nest (300cm). They utilize the moist rotting material as bedding as they require a great deal of moisture during incubation. Females guard their nests for up to 9 months starting months before they lay their first egg. Which means the female could spend 10 months of the year in a dark hole.
Naughty by Nature
Eclectus parrots breed co-operatively which is potentially do to the uneven male/female ratio in flocks, lack of hollows and high nestling morbidity rate of females.
Stay at Home Mom
The females are the primary feeders of the chicks, so she will remain in an extremely high moisture environment for the majority of the year. Males will forage together, eating a large percentage of ‘pulp’ (Salacia and Leea) with extremely high water content. The female will defend the nest at any cost from other birds and rodents.
Dietary Adaptation
Occasionally, the males may forage on the ground, with a higher concentration of fresh greens such as dandelion, shrubs, flowers, berries and herbs, but otherwise remain in the canopy.