ILLIGER vs. M. ECLECTUS

[CRYROLFE]

Well, we are still searching and searching for our next family member.

I know of 2 types that we are looking into.....The Illiger Macaw and the male Eclectus. I have watch NUMEROUS videos on them and read just about EVERYTHING!!! LOL.
I got to visit some Illiger babies who are weaned and ready to go home. They are just adorable and into everything like little monkeys.

I have never met an Eclectus but they seem to be a very cool bird as well. I love the way they look and how well they talk and the fact that they could be a good bird for both me and my husband.
The Macaws that I have known have tended to be more of a one-person type of bird....and I know that's not always the case, but maybe it's very common.

We currently have a CAG who is a rehomed bird and he is not tame. He was hand raised but is now cage bound and is 9yrs old.

Not sure which one I'll pick just yet....I hate making such huge decisions!!

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

Bump!

Does anyone want to comment on the differences between these two species?

 

[noblemacaw]

Okay...I had both species of parrot. If you look at my signature you can see that Diego was my Illigers and Joaquin was my Eclectus.

Both were very different birds and I loved both of them for very different reasons. I have written stories and many posts on these two parrots. I took both of their deaths very very hard.

Joaquin my Eclectus was the parrot that went though the hardest adjustment period when coming home after he was weaned. It took three weeks for Diego to forgive me and begin cuddle wrestling with me. By compairison my Noble macaw Mihijo and my Red Fronted Macaw Valentino took adjustment very easy. Both parrots didn't have any adjustment issues when they first came home.

Before I write a book about each of my boys if you could tell me what you are looking for in a parrot companion and that will help guide me how I compose my writing of the two parrots. I had two mini macaws and the Eclectus. My eclectus did bring balance in my flock and he was my best therapy pet. Diego was bonded to me with the exclusion of everyone else and Mihijo loved everyone, especially if you had food.

I still do grieve the loss of each of these parrots but if I can help anyone with information about their species I am still willing to do it. Help guide me what you want to know about the Illiger's and Eclectus.

 

[Birdman666]

Apples and oranges...

Hard for me to comment on this one because I didn't see many Illger's. (I've worked with way too many severe macaws... don't get me started. And the XXL variety who tended to come to me with dominance issues.

And the male Eckies for some reason rarely got dumped. (Which I take as a glowing recommendation.)

The smaller macaws tend to have attitude. They are playful, feisty, huge personality birds - WITH ATTITUDE. (and sharp pointy beaks!)

Male eckies tend to be much more mellow. They are less "touchy-feelie" than a lot of birds. Tend to be better talkers.

 

[noblemacaw]

My Eclectus Joaquin was a prince outside the home. Regal with a gentle loving attitude to help serve and help people feel better..but at the home. He was part macaw. He could be naughty and did get the police called on me because he was yelling at teh top of his lungs "I WANT OUT. I WANT OUT NOW. OUT OUT OUT! HEP ME HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

I had my windows open and my neighbor could hear Joaquin having his tantrum. He thought a little kid was being abused so he called it in. LOL.

I will say before Joaquin got sick and lost his ability to speak he was on his way of being able to talk better than my Illiger's macaw Diego. Diego had a huge vocabulary too. The difference was that Joaquin was beginning to talk in sentences where Diego could kind of talk in sentences but not as well.

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

I'm looking for a family companion, and I have been steering closely to the Eclectus, but someone on this forum mentioned that Illigers are great family companions as well. It's just hard to find a baby right now from a reputable source near me, although I have been in touch with a breeder, and I'm looking at a 7 year old Ekkie as a possible adoption this weekend. However, there is an illiger baby near me for sale from a reputable bird store.

Thanks for providing any information you can. I always hear glowing reviews of Eclectus, so I guess I may have to wait a while before a baby is available, unless I adopt an older bird. I'm just worried I may not be able to train an older bird to be comfortable around us since I'm not familiar with the species.

I have ten years experience with an Umbrella too that we weened from a baby. He was a very happy, loving bird, but at the time, I had a baby, and didn't have the time for him with my twins and newborn, and full time job. We found him a wonderful home though. Now I'm a SAHM and my twins are 10 and my "baby" is 7, so I have more time.

For me, it's just important that the bird gets along with the family. He/she doesn't have to be a great talker, which is something that is at the bottom of my list of necessities in an parrot, although it's a bonus.