Subspecies

[Joshuwaaa]

Hi, I apologise for posting so much in such a small space of time. I just have so many questions and find this to be the best place to get some good answers.

I know there are three sub species of eclectus and I did question with the breeder which of the three Loki was, however I didn't get a clear answer and I don't think he understood what I meant.

I THINK Loki is a red sides eclectus but would like confirmation, only because curiosity is kicking in. I won't be treating him any differently to how I am now.

If I post some pictures of different parts of him, could someone maybe point out areas which show the sub species to me? I'm interested to learn more about my boy and his greater eclectus family.

Thanks everyone,

Here we go:

Tail feathers -

Eyes & beak -

All over body -

Thank you in advance, if you need anymore pictures just holla, I got tons lol.

Thanks x

 

[Thingamagigs]

I don't know much on the sub species, but grats on your new baby! Is the poor thing covered in stress feathers? :O What a poor little love, thank goodness he is in your capable hands now!

 

[sodakat]

If the breeder did not know what you were talking about I would say there is a good chance he is cross bred. It's hard to tell the males apart and I am lousy at it other than some generalizations that might help you.

First, all males have yellow tipped tails so looking at the underside of his tail is not too helpful. Vos males have the narrowest yellow band which is contrary to what everyone thinks. It is the Vos female who has the bright yellow tail band. I am trusting Laurella on this one (least amount of yellow on male Vos tails) because she has kept hundreds of pairs and has examined skins in museums as well. Laurella Desborough, Graham Taylor and Susie Christian are probably the most experienced in identifying subspecies from pictures and all are wonderful people who would definitely help you identify him, so do contact them from their websites if you are so inclined.

Look at him from the back when he is resting. Difficult I know because he will want to turn towards you. So do it when he isn't paying attention to you. How far below the tips of his folded wing ends do his tail feathers extend. If it is more than an inch then he likely does have one of the larger subspecies in his family tree.

When he is a couple years old his eye color will be evident as well as his adult beak color.

Also, his weight is an indicator. What does he weigh now as a six month old juvenile?

 

[Joshuwaaa]

I'm not really too bothered, it just interested me what the differences were if any. I know some can tell on appearance, others on size, weight etc.

I'm not too sure on his weight and as he's in his cage I couldn't check until tomorrow, may put him on the scale though lol. Chunky monkey.

Hope your all well, thanks for the replies x

 

[CathnPoe]

Poe's an SI/Red-sided mix.
My vet knew instantly! Apparently the amount of red feathers that show beside the wing and the colours of the fight feathers are tells in some way... but his colours are so unique at this stage it's tricky. You'll know better after his first moult.
If he gets big, rule out SI for sure.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Is he wet in that picture? It almost looks like he's full of stress feathers like thingamagig said.

This military macaw has a ton of stress feathers(stress bars)

 

[CathnPoe]

Poe has stress feathers from an experience at the breeders and they don't look like that.
Not even close.
The dense black patches would be a weird way for the stress bands to form... unless he was super crazy ultimately stressed.
Joshuwaaa, did the vet say what the colouration was?

 

[Joshuwaaa]

Hey, yea his coloration is a tricky one.

The vet said its because his parents and he were fed just seed and didn't get enough light and vitamins. She said the new feathers that have moulted out are the right colour and he will just need a good diet and a good moult.

It's not nice though, it worries me horrible.

Aslong as all his checks came back okay, I'm happy to have a bird which isn't as typically colourful. I think he's beautiful and unique !

Il keep you posted on how his colour goes though, hopefully this moult will see the majority gone x

 

[Thingamagigs]

Poe has stress feathers from an experience at the breeders and they don't look like that.
Not even close.
The dense black patches would be a weird way for the stress bands to form... unless he was super crazy ultimately stressed.
Joshuwaaa, did the vet say what the colouration was?

the stress 'bands' happen due to a more minor/temporary event (short term illness, injury, sudden temperature change in baby birds etc)... so instead of having a long term issue, there was a specific short term event that caused the feathers to grow out discoloured for just the duration of the event, leaving a band in an otherwise normal looking feather.

When the event lasts for an extended period... example: exceptionally poor nutrition sustained for months or even a lifetime... the entire feather is discoloured instead of just in small bands along specific feathers. This will happen for all feathers that grow out during that sustained period of time. So instead of having stress bands... you have an almost entirely discoloured bird.

From what I can tell, severe nutritional issues seem to be the main reason such widespread discolouring happens.