Biak Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus biaki) – Group: Blue

Here you can see a Biak Eclectus male (Eclectus roratus biaki). It is still perceived by some ornithologists as a local variant of the Papuan Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus polychloros), but according to the current world-leading scientific taxonomy it is an independently recognized subspecies. The island of Biak offers a tropical rainforest climate with almost the same temperatures throughout the year. The average annual temperature is 27 degrees Celsius. Rain falls every single month of the year, which gives an annual average rainfall of approximately 2,850 mm of rain. The driest months are October and November, with an average of less than 200 mm of rain per month. Photo from the internet.

Introduction

The Latin subspecies designation "biaki" refers to the bird's home, which is primarily the island of Biak in the Cenderawasih Bay (formerly known as Geelvink Bay) off the coast of the northwestern part of New Guinea. Here it was described for the first time in a scientific context as late as 1932.

Many doubt the existence of this subspecies, as it differs only marginally from the Papuan Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus polychloros).

However, aviculturists who specialize in Biak Red-sided (Eclectus roratus biaki) and Solomon Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus solomonensis) find that there are definable differences, i.a. by virtue of:

• its smaller size
• another kind of voice and
• behavioral differences.

What is more important, however, is that science in its latest taxonomy continues to maintain the Biak Red-sided Eclectus as a recognized subspecies, which substantiates that differences in relation to the other Eclectus subspecies can be scientifically documented.

Colour description

Adult male: The male has a dark green plumage with an emerald green tinge. The feathers themselves seem to have a slight "blocking" effect like fish scales. The male has a slim, compact body, with a fairly long neck and tail. The underside of the tail has a defined, pale yellowish border along the tip of the tail, which is only approximately 0.6 cm wide. The upper beak is a deep, rich red-orange colour, and appears to be a little too large for the head. The outer iris ring is reddish orange.

Adult female: The female resembles the adult female of the Papuan Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus polychloros) in many respects, but is much smaller. The main difference between the two subspecies is that the back and upper wing coverts are velvety reddish brown changing to a deep clear red colour on the head and down the chin on the female of the Biak Red-sided Eclectus. The breast and lower abdomen are brilliant royal blue with a hint of violet. The feathers are held very close to the body compared to many of the larger subspecies, making the plumage appear very tight. The underside of the tail is lighter reddish orange. The shiny black beak appears slightly smaller in relation to the head. A narrow eye ring of tiny royal blue feathers encircles the eye. The outer iris ring is whitish yellow, almost prominent silver-yellow in contrast to the brilliant blue eye ring.

• Average length: 35 cm, according to "A Guide to ... Eclectus Parrots", revised edition from 2004, by Rob Marshall and Ian Ward (ISBN 0 9750817 0 5).
• Length: 35 cm, according to “Lexicon of Parrots” (CD version 3.0) from 2008, by Thomas Arndt (ISBN 3-9808245-3-5).

Palau, to which the Eclectus Parrot has been introduced by humans, has issued up to several stamps with the Eclectus Parrot (without specifying the subspecies) as a motif, here the motif is a fairly lifelike male bird.

In the wild

As already stated, this subspecies is found primarily on the island of Biak, located in the Cenderawasih Bay (formerly known as Geelvink Bugten) off the coast of the northwestern part of New Guinea.

In addition, it is also found on some very small surrounding islands around Biak, including Numfor, Yapen and Mois Num.

In addition, refer to the article on www.birdkeeper.dk about the Papuan Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus polychloros).

Threats

BirdLife International, the official "Red List" authority for birds on behalf of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), continuously assesses the status of how threatened all kinds of birds are in the wild. However, as a starting point, BirdLife International only operates at the species level and not at the subspecies level, which means that all possible subspecies, including the nominate subspecies, which together make up the species, are grouped together under this. In its descriptions and assessments, BirdLife International make no detailed distinctions between the nominate subspecies and the other subspecies.

In addition, it must also be stated that BirdLife International uses another taxonomy than Howard & Moore, which means that the Biaki Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus biaki) is considered one of 5 subspecies of the "Red-sided Eclectus" species (Eclectus polychloros), which are treated as one by BirdLife International:

Bird Life International's current threat assessment of this species – the Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus polychloros) in nature is categorized in the "Least Concern" category. This obviously covers very large individual differences between the individual subspecies, i.a. because their distribution areas are of very different sizes. It is obvious that the Biak Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus biaki) with its very small distribution area - everything else being equal - must of course be more threatened than the Papuan Red-sided Eclectus, which has a colossally large distribution area (in New Guinea, the world's second largest island, and surrounding islands).

Further reference is made to the article on www.birdkeeper.dk about the Papuan Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus polychloros).

Nature protection measures

This bird is listed on CITES, Appendix II.

See also the article on www.birdkeeper.dk about the Papuan Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus polychloros).

Here is a Biak Red-sided Eclectus female (Eclectus roratus biaki), which in many ways resembles the female of the Papuan Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus polychloros), but is much smaller. The main difference between the two subspecies is that the Biak Red-sided Eclectus female's back and upper wing coverts are velvety reddish brown changing to a deep clear red colour on the head and down the chin area. The breast and lower belly are brilliant royal blue with a hint of violet. What is perhaps most striking is that the feathers are held very close to the body compared to many of the larger subspecies, making the plumage appear very tight. Photo from the internet.

In human care

In the early 1990’s, a few specimens were imported to the USA. An interesting story is told about it in many contexts, which exists in different versions, but there should be a touch of truth in each of these. It is said that in 1991 a Christian missionary imported 15 Eclectus Parrots to the USA, mostly Biak Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus biaki) and a few specimens of the Papuan Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus polychloros). The birds were imported legally, since the missionary had the necessary import papers in order. After the import, the birds were sold, a "mixed" pair was sold to a pet store, and two other pairs were sold to an aviculturist who already had both the Papuan Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus polychloros) and the Solomon Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus solomonensis). After he had bought these two pairs, he soon realized that he had something much rarer in his hands, and he therefore decided to resell the birds at a greatly inflated selling price of US $4,000 for a pair. There are records back in 1996 that two breeding pairs of Biak Red-sided Eclectus (Eclectus roratus biaki) exist in the USA, and it should be from these two breeding pairs that most specimens of this subspecies in the USA now originate.

This subspecies is said not to be found among Australian aviculturists, and so far, I have been unable to find records of it among European aviculturists.

The Republic of Kiribati, another island nation in the Pacific Ocean, has also issued a very nice stamp with a pair of (non-subspecies determined) flying Eclectus Parrots and a Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor (should really be "major")). The country consists of 33 islands, which are spread over 3,800 kilometers around the equator. Kiribati is the Micronesian name for the former English name for the large group of islands, the Gilbert Islands. Kiribati is just west of the date line, and is therefore the first to celebrate the New Year every year according to our regular Gregorian calendar.

Colour mutations

I am not aware of any colour mutations of this subspecies.

Feeding

See the section on nutrition under the article "Generally about Eclectus Parrots" and the article on the nominate subspecies, Seram Eclectus (Eclectus roratus roratus).

Jorgen Petersen

Conceived/Updated: 16.12.2011 / 01.04.2024

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