Scientific Name: Eclectus roratus
Status: Least Concern
Conrad's Story: Conrad was a donated by an elementary school teacher who wanted his beloved parrot to be one our wildlife ambassadors. We believe it is important you know most people who relinquish animals to SWI realize that wild and exotic don't make great pets and want the best for them. Conrad was named after his previous owner.
Facts: There are at least nine subspecies of Eclectus Parrots and all share extreme sexual dimorphism in the colorful plumage. In the parrot family it is unusual in the parrot family (Psittacoidea) it unusual for males and females to look so different. Up until the early 20th century males and females were consider to be two different species. We now know males are mostly bright green plumage with accents of red blues, and even yellow (like Conrad), while female a mostly bright red with accents of purple, blue, yellow, and orange.
Range: Native to the northeasten Australia and the Maluku Islands, Solomon Islands, Sumba, New Guinea and other neighboring islands.
Conservation: Although some subspecies are quit rare most populations of are doing very well. These are often bred in captivity for and kept as pets. Their beautiful colored feathers are also used by people in native tribes of New Guinea for head-dresses and other ceremonially adornment.