Parrotlet

Quick Take

• Parrotlets form massive, noisy flocks in the wild, but something about captivity flips their social instincts completely on its head. See their wild vs. captive behavior →
• These birds are tiny enough to fit in a pocket, but their attitude toward dogs, cats, and even their own mates can turn genuinely dangerous. Explore in-captivity risks →
• Some parrotlets make devoted, handleable pets, but one specific event can permanently change that, and owners rarely see it coming. See how mating changes them →
• Before buying a parrotlet, the price tag alone might surprise you, and that is before you even factor in what their personality actually demands. Check the cost and personality →

Parrotlets are even smaller in size than parakeets. They have blunt tails and a feisty personality that can be aggressive. They can even deliver a surprisingly painful bite. A pet parrotlet is less social than a parakeet, though it can bond very intensely with a mate or its human. Read on for more information about this little “pocket parrot.”

5 Incredible Parrotlet Facts

• The parrotlet is a talking bird, though it doesn’t mimic speech as well as a larger parrot, such as the African gray parrot. The pricey spectacled parrotlet is famous for having better-than-average talking skills.
• ‘Parrotlets generally cost much more than parakeets, with typical prices ranging from $250 to $400, though rare color mutations can exceed $1000. Budgies (parakeets) are usually priced between $25 and $50 in pet stores.
• A parrotlet’s pugnacious personality might let it think it can best a pet dog or cat. It can’t, and owners should be aware of this and make sure their parrotlet is supervised whenever it’s let out of its cage.
• Whether blue-winged, scarlet-shouldered, or green-rumped, parrotlets possess four-toed zygodactyl feet. This means two of their toes point forward and the other two point backward. This helps them maintain a tight grip on a branch.
• The Manu parrotlet is known for visiting clay licks in its countries of origin, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. There, it gets needed minerals such as sodium. The scarlet-shouldered and spectacled parrotlets also visit clay licks.

Parrotlets vs. Parakeets

Unlike a parakeet, the parrotlet has a short tail. It also has a stockier build. Owners will also find that a parrotlet’s personality is different from the playful and affectionate personality of a parakeet. These birds can be affectionate, but they can also be aggressive and ready to bite. Unlike the gregarious parakeet, they prefer to be kept apart from other birds in captivity, even their conspecifics (members of the same species). Even mated pairs have been known to fight to the death. While parakeets are prolific breeders, parrotlets — especially Pacific parrotlets — are also commonly bred in captivity, though some species may be less prolific.

Where To Find Parrotlets

The two most popular parrotlets, the Pacific and green-rumped parrotlets, can be found in some pet stores. Parrotlets that have been bred to develop spectacular colors (or, in the case of albino parrotlets, no colors) can be purchased from breeders. The potential owner needs to make sure that the breeders are reputable, that it is legal to buy and sell the parrotlets, and that the birds are healthy.

Classification and Scientific Name

These birds belong to three genera. They are Forpus, Touit, and Nannopsittaca. Touit is interesting because it is derived from neither Greek nor Latin. Instead, it comes from the Tupi language for “very little parrot.” The Tupi people are native to Brazil. Nannopsittaca comes from the Greek and Latin words for “dwarf”, which is nanus, and the Greek word for parrot, which is psittakos.

There are about nine species in Forpus, seven species in Touit, and only two species in Nannopsittaca. Many of these species, such as the Mexican parrotlet and the green-rumped parrotlet, have subspecies, though the lilac-tailed parrotlet, whose origins are in Trinidad and Tobago and northeast South America, is monotypic. Some species are:

• Pacific parrotlet — Forpus coelestis
• Turquoise-winged Parrotlet — Forpus spengeli
• Scarlet-shouldered parrotlet — Touit huetii
• Tepui parrotlet — Nannopsittaca panychlora
• Golden-tailed parrotlet — Touit surdus

Appearance

In general, these birds are smaller than parakeets and much smaller in size than their cousin, the Amazon parrot. They have short — even stubby — tails that make them look chunkier than the parakeet. Males can be easily discerned from females by their plumage. However, the species of parrotlet determines the colors of their feathers.

The male of the popular Pacific parrotlet is a blue-winged bird that also has some blue behind its eyes and on its rump. The female does not have a blue streak behind the eyes. Another blue-winged parrotlet is the turquoise-winged parrotlet, whose males not only have rich turquoise on their wings but also on their rumps and the lower part of their backs. Females do not have blue feathers, but the yellow-green of their faces is brighter than that of the males.

Behavior

In the wild, these birds are very gregarious and can form flocks made up of dozens. They are noisy as they fly, even though individual parrotlets are known for their soft voices. Ironically, it is sometimes hard for one to tolerate another bird in its cage, especially if the cage is small.

Diet

In the wild, these birds eat fruit, berries, seeds, nuts, and sometimes grass. Owners need to make sure that the diet of their birds gives them the nutrients that they need. They can make seed mixes that have ingredients such as sunflower, millet, and other seeds, offer fresh fruit and green leafy vegetables every day, and feed the birds pellets that are designed to give them essential vitamins and minerals. Of course, clean, fresh water is a must, especially during hot summers.

Predators and Threats

Since they are such small birds, it is reasonable to think that parrotlets would frequently fall prey to predators, especially those that live in the forests of Mexico and Central and South America, such as jaguars. However, because the birds flock in such high numbers, it can be difficult for a predator to hone in on one individual. Like most birds, parrotlet hatchlings are most at risk for predation.

Predators include carnivores such as the ocelot, snakes, hawks, other birds of prey, and bats that can grow even larger than adult birds. Some species are trapped for the pet trade, even though it is illegal. The number of birds that die before they can be sold can be calamitous. Because they are curious and somewhat belligerent, they are at risk for accidents and confrontations if they are let out of their cage without the owner keeping an eye on them.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

Most parrotlets mate for life and breed during the rainy season. Some, such as the Mexican parrotlet, nest in tree or cactus cavities. They may also take over the abandoned nests of other birds. Females lay one egg a day or every other day until they have three to seven. The eggs are small and white, and she incubates them exclusively, though the male feeds her and the chicks. The eggs hatch after 18 to 22 days, one at a time. The chicks fledge after a month or so and are ready to leave the nest a few weeks after that, though brothers and sisters may stay in touch with each other. The lifespan of a well-cared-for pet parrotlet is typically 15 to 20 years, with some individuals occasionally reaching up to 25 years.

An owner should know that some parrotlets, such as the spectacled parrotlet, can no longer be handled once they have bonded with a mate.

Population

The population of the Amazonian parrotlet (Nannopsittaca dachilleae) is believed to be between 2500 and 9999 birds alone. The population of most parrotlets is either steady or decreasing, though most species are listed as of least concern.