Parrotlets
Class: Aves ... Order: Psittaciformes ... Family: Psittacidae ... Subfamily:Psittacinae ... CITES II: Endangered Species
Parrotlet Cages ... Parrotlet Diet: Nutrition & Commercial Food ... Toys ... Books
I found Parrotlets to be quite similar in personality to lovebirds. Cuddly and animated, and with a need for daily interaction with their human "mates" for them to stay tame and loving. Some learn to talk. They can get quite nippy. Handling in addition to a nice personality is going to determine its pet quality.
General
Parrotlets are distinguished from parakeets in that despite their small size, they have a thick build and a broad tail, much like the lovebird species of East Africa and fig parrot and pygmy parrot species of Australasia. At 4½–5 inches long, they are the second smallest kind of parrot in the world.
These miniature parrots in the wild travel in flocks which, depending on the species can range from as low as four to over 100 birds. Most either species travel in flocks of about 5–12 or of about 10–40.
Speech / Learning
They can learn more than 10–15 words and can "whistle" songs well. They have about the same speaking and whistling capabilities of a cockatiel. They are also very good learners for commands such as "step up", "kiss-kiss", "step down", and other small commands. Some parrotlets can learn advanced tricks, but not advanced as a macaw or an african grey.
Training and Behavioral Guidance:
Parrotlets are generally easy to take care of. Some may get nippy as the discover their beaks as method of "disciplining us"
- Web Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training.
- If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
- Stop Biting
- Perform Tricks &
- Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
- and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
Aviculture
The most commonly kept parrotlet in aviculture is by far the Pacific Parrotlet, which now has several color mutations. The Mexican, Spectacled, and Yellow-Faced are also fairly common pets. Their popularity as pets has grown due to their small size and large personalities. Parrotlets are commonly known as playful birds that enjoy the chewing as much as their larger Amazon Parrot counterparts. However, their largest quirk lies in the fact that they don't grow as bored as other species of parrots. Parrotlets keep themselves more than occupied when left alone for several hours, so long as they are provided with an array of chewable and destructable toys to play with. However, when their keepers get home, they often greet them with lovely chirps and whistles to let them know they want attention.
The photos and below information - courtesy of Mandy & Paul - Breeder of Parrotlets & Other Exotic Birds - Singing Wings Aviary - www.singing-wings-aviary.com
Genera
Forpus
Forpus, the most well known genus of parrotlet, includes all species of parrotlet commonly kept as pets, including the Pacific Parrotlet, Mexican Parrotlet, and the Spectacled Parrotlet.
Touit
The Touit Parrotlets are a genus of parrotlets found in The Venezuela-Guyana area, Northern Andes, and Bahia. Only three of the seven species have ever been brought into aviculture, with all three failing to keep them alive, or breed them.
Nannopsittaca
There are only two species in the Genus Nannopsittaca, of which only one—Nannopsittaca panychlora, the Tepui Parrot—has been successfully kept in captivity. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with web visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the webmaster.
Photo contributions are welcome!
