Vosmaer’s Parrot General Info
With its impressive traits, the Vosmaer’s breed of Eclectus parrots has a lot to offer to every owner. From their friendly nature and loving behavior, all the way to their flashy and flamboyant looks, these exotic parrots never fail to impress. So, if you’re on the lookout for a unique parrot with a great personality, the Vosmaer’s Parrot could be the perfect choice for you. Although just a bit rare in the pet market, they are still seen here and there and are popular among owners. Let’s meet the Vosmaer’s parrot!
This subspecies of Eclectus parrots has a whole set of distinguishing features that make them unique in their own way.
Native Region/Natural Habitat
Vosmaer’s Parrot is exclusive to a few islands in the North Maluku province of Indonesia. These include the Mare, Morotai, Damar and many other smaller islands. First spotted in 1922, they have been recognized as a unique subspecies and have thrived ever since. They inhabit the tropical woodlands, sparse growth and forest edge, and their numbers are healthy and growing. Thanks to their look, they are one of the iconic sights in Indonesia and Oceania as well.
Overall Description
Being a part of the Eclectus family, they naturally share a lot of similarities and are difficult to identify from afar. But once you learn of the few crucial differences, you’ll be able to spot Vosmaer’s Parrot with ease. The adults reach an average length of 15 inches (38 centimeters) and can weigh up to 1.2 pounds (540 grams). These are robust parrots and larger than their nominate species. They are also the largest of all Eclectuses. One of the iconic features is their extreme dimorphism. This means that males and females are completely different and very easy to tell apart. This is rare in the parrot world.
Speech and Sounds
These parrots are on a moderate level when it comes to noise. While they are not too noisy, they aren’t really quiet either. Take this into account if you live in an apartment. These are parrots that mostly express themselves with natural calls which are shrill and surprising, but they are not heard very often. They are also good mimics, and can even learn a few words with enough patient training. All in all, the noise is quite tolerable, especially when compared to many other popular parrot breeds.
Colors
Bright dazzling colors, exotic hues, and vibrant tones are the biggest pride of the Vosmaer’s Parrot. Their unique looks will definitely leave you speechless. You’re also given a choice – since males and females are so different. Vivid, tropical green is the color of the males. This is an almost fluorescent shade that has a lot of yellowish shades. They have prominent blue tail feathers and small red patches at the sides of the abdomen. The beak is yellow. The females have a bright red head and back, and a purple-red chest and belly. This is considerably different than the striking, darker purple of the nominate Eclectus parrots. Their wings are dark, crimson red. And the feature that is unique to the Vosmaer’s Parrot is the bright yellow underside of the tail.
The males and females of this breed have come in two completely different colors, a trait common for Eclectus parrots.
Care and Feeding
Their diet in the wild is varied and mostly consists of fruits. They often invade plantations and are considered as pests in some areas of their habitat. A good commercial seed mix, combined with a plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, will be a good diet for your Vosmaer’s Parrot. Another part of the overall care is hygiene. Bathing dishes, showers or water sprays will all do a lot for your pet and the quality and cleanliness of their feathers. It also works as a preventive against various diseases.
Health and Common Conditions
These robust and fairly large parrots are quick to adapt and will thrive in optimized conditions. Due to their size, you will want to take care of their free space. A roomy, large cage is a must, as well as plenty of time outside of it. To satisfy any excess of energy, you can provide a lot of parrot toys. Vosmaer’s Parrot will be happy even when playing on its own.
These parrots thrive on fruit-based diets. Offer a lot of fruit and cooked vegetables with beta-carotene, like broccoli, sweet potato, and carrots.
Personality & Behavior
One of the calmer species, these parrots have good all-around traits that are loved by most owners. For the most part, Vosmaer’s Parrot is sociable and friendly, and sometimes even overly docile. This calm nature makes them a good choice for apartment dwellers and seniors. All things considered, these friendly and affectionate parrots are fun to be around and can make any owner happy with their choice of a pet bird. Additionally, this breed tends to get along with other birds well, making it a good choice for an aviary. With a lifespan of 30 years or more, Vosmaer’s Parrot can be a great companion. After all, who wouldn’t want to spend decades alongside a funny, loving pet?
Photo credit: TigerStock’s/Shutterstock; Mohana Anton Meryl/Shutterstock
