Eclectus Parrot

The genus was named by Johann Georg Wagler in 1832. The epithet derives from eklektos, the ancient Greek cum Latin term for 'chosen one'; Wagler acknowledges the Latin in a publication later the same year. There are five species presently recognized in this genus: The oceanic eclectus is thought to be from the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene Epoch, and was found in Vanuatu, Fiji, and on the Tonga Archipelago. It became extinct around 3,000 years ago as a result of human settlement in these areas during that time.

The eclectus parrot is endemic to rainforests from New Guinea to the Solomon Islands, and the tip of the Cape York Peninsula of Australia. On the peninsula, they are restricted to rainforest patches in the Iron and McIllwraith ranges.

=== Vocalizations === Eclectus parrots have a varied range of calls, from a loud, high-pitched squawk to whistles and screeches.

As stated previously, eclectus parrots nest in hollow cavities 20 to 30 meters above the ground. Optimal nesting hollows are relatively rare within the eclectus' habitat, and can be very difficult to find. in which multiple males breed with a single female, and all the males work together to help the female raise the chicks, rather than compete with each other. They are the only parrot known to do this. Females will lay two eggs per clutch, but often only fledge one young. Eclectus are also unusual in that they can bias the sex of their offspring, such that they can manipulate whether their offspring are male or female. It is thought that this behavior occurs as a result of the scarcity of their nesting hollows. As such, females will only have male offspring when resources are plentiful, a good nesting hollow is secured, and many males are around to feed her and her offspring.