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 with decades of experience and field research by behavior ecologists.
This title is really comprehensive and deals with topics ranging from origins to conservation, hand rearing, and diseases of Eclectus parrots.
There are nine sections comprising 26 chapters. Book starts with section one covering all species and subspecies, including range maps. Next comes a color index with excellent visual representation of identification colors.
Chapter four contains species and subspecies identification system with beautifully illustrated male and female guides. Photography skillfully aids in identifying tricky subspecies.
Section 2 covers field research on Australian Eclectus subspecies including diet, habitat, and breeding behavior. Subsequent sections cover captive diet and conservation status.
Sections 5–7 cover keeping, breeding, hand rearing, and companion care, explaining best practices, protocols, and living conditions.
Section 8 explores diseases affecting Eclectus parrots, from nutritional deficiencies to complex feather problems. Last section covers behavioral disorders and treatment strategies.
The only missing topic is mutations present in aviculture today, though a wild yellow mutation from 1862 is included with photo.
Recommendation:
Richly illustrated throughout with charts, tables, figures, and excellent photography, this is a MUST HAVE for keepers, breeders, veterinarians, and anyone interested in this beautiful species.