The oceanic eclectus is an extinct parrot species which occurred on Tonga, Vanuatu and possibly on Fiji. Its closest living relative is the eclectus parrot, which has proportionally larger wings than the oceanic eclectus parrot. The fossil material unearthed in November 1989 in Late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits on 'Eua, Lifuka, 'Uiha and Vanuatu and described in 2006 by David William Steadman include a complete femur, five radii, a quadrate bone, a mandible, a coracoid, two sterna, two humeri, two ulnae, two tibiotarsi, a carpometacarpus, a tarsometatarsus, and three pedal phalanges.
Region
Southwest Pacific Islands
Typical Environment
This species inhabited tropical island forests on Tonga and Vanuatu, using lowland and foothill rainforests, coastal woodland, and riverine forest. It likely favored mature forest with large cavity-bearing trees for nesting and abundant fruiting trees. Secondary growth and agroforestry mosaics with fruit trees would also have provided feeding opportunities. The species probably foraged from the mid-story to the canopy and moved between forest patches across island landscapes.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Oceanic eclectus is an extinct parrot known from Late Pleistocene and Holocene subfossils on Tonga and Vanuatu, and possibly Fiji. It was closely related to the living eclectus parrot but had proportionally shorter wings, hinting at a more forest-bound lifestyle. Its extinction likely followed human arrival, habitat alteration, and introduced predators on Pacific islands.
Life restoration of a male and female
Temperament
social and alert
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through forest; direct but not strongly migratory
Social Behavior
Likely formed pairs or small family groups, using tree cavities for nesting. Breeding was probably timed to peaks in fruit availability. Pairs defended nest sites while foraging more widely in surrounding forest.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations were likely loud, carrying squawks and harsh screeches typical of eclectus parrots. Contact calls would have helped maintain cohesion in dense forest and over canopy gaps.
Plumage
Strongly sexually dimorphic as in other eclectus parrots: males predominantly green with contrasting underwing coverts; females rich red with darker blue to purple belly and mantle.
Diet
Primarily ate fruits, figs, and drupes, supplemented with seeds, buds, and flowers. It likely exploited seasonal fruiting events and may have played a role in seed dispersal on islands. Occasional nectar feeding from flowering trees was probable.
Preferred Environment
Foraged in the mid- to upper canopy of primary and secondary tropical forest, along edges, and in coastal woodland. It likely visited fruiting trees in village gardens and plantations when available.
