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| Parrotlet | ||||||||||||
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 Male Pacific, or Celestial Parrotlet (Forpus coelestis)
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Parrotlets are a group of smallest New World (American) Parrot species, comprising several genera namely, Bolborhynchus, Brotogeris, Forpus, Nannopsittaca & Touit. One of these genera, Forpus, is growing in availability & popularity in aviculture.
Parrotlets and most particularly celestials (aka pacific) Parrotlets are the smallest commonly bred Parrot species in captivity, with a stocky build and a broad tail, much like the lovebird species of East Africa and fig parrot and pygmy parrot species of Australasia.
One of the most common species kept as pets is the Forpus coelestis, commonly known as the celestial akaPacific Parrotlet. The wild type coloring for this species is green, but several color mutations have been established through selective breeding. Parrotlets are sexually dimorphic, meaning males & females show different. Males have markings of cobalt blue on their head, wings and tail. Females generally lack these blue markings.
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 5–40. This species forms life-long & tight pair bonds with their chosen mates.
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Life expectancy
With a healthy diet, much exercise and healthy environment, a Parrotlet has a life expectancy of 10 to 20 years.
Speech and training
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 as advanced as a Macaw or an African Grey Parrot. Having the ability to speak does not necessarily mean a bird will speak; it depends on the specific bird's personality.
Demeanor
These feisty little birds should not be overlooked in favor of more widely known types of birds; any Parrotlet owner will tell you that these birds possess all the intelligence and attitude of the largest of macaws. These birds are fairly quiet companions, making them ideal for those who live in apartments or condominiums. Males are more likely to talk than female parrotlets.
Aviculture
The most commonly kept parrotlet in aviculture is by far the celestial aka Pacific Parrotlet, which now has several color mutations such as the NSL Albino, Blue, Dilute (European yellow & white), Dominantpied, Dunfallow, NSL lutino, Recessivegrey, Suffused (American yellow & white)...
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 chewing as much as their larger Amazon Parrot counterparts. Being highly intelligent and active parrots, Parrotlets must have ample opportunities to play and exercise. Environmental enrichment must be made a part of their lives as to prevent boredom. Parrotlets keep themselves more than occupied when left alone for several hours, so long as they are provided with an array of chewable and destructible 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.
Diet
- Whole cereals and whole grains :Spray Millet amaranth, barley, couscous, flax, whole-grain pastas, oat, quinoa (truly a fruit but used as a cereal), whole-wheat, wild rice, whole rices.
- Edible blossoms and flowers: carnations, chamomille, chives, dandelion, daylily, eucalyptus, fruit tree blossoms, herbs blossoms, hibiscus, honeysuckle, impatiens, lilac, nasturiums, pansies, passion flower (Passiflora), roses, sunflowers, tulips, violets. Note that the leaves of some of these plants are poisonous to Parrots.
- Greens and/or weeds:
- mainly ; bok-choi, broccoli and/or cauliflower leaves, cabbage leaves, collared greens, dandelion leaves, kelp, mustard leaves, seaweeds, spirulina, water cress.
- occasionally & sporadically ; amaranth leaves, beet leaves, carambola (starfruit), chard, parsley, spinach & turnip leaves. All of these feature high oxalic acid contents that induces production of calcium oxalates (crystals/stones) by binding calcium & other trace minerals present in foods and goods with which they're ingested, possibly leading to calcium deficiencies and/or Hypocalcemia in minor cases, liver or other internal organ damage or failure in more severe cases.
- Fruit (except avocados which are toxic): all apple varieties, banana, all berries varieties, all citrus varieties, grapes, kiwi, mango, melons, nectarine, papaya, peach, all pear varieties, plum, star-fruit. Pits and seeds from every citrus and drupe species must always be discarded as they are intoxicating. However, achenes and tiny seeds from pseudo and true berries (bananas, blueberries, elderberries, eggplants, persimmons, pomegranates, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes) are all acceptable.
- Legumes: almonds, beans, lentils, peas, nuts and tofu.
- Grain and/or Legume sprouts: adzuki beans, alfalfa beans, buckwheat, lentils, mung beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds. Caution with only lima bean and navy bean sprouts which are toxic.
- Vegetables (except uncooked potatoes, uncooked onions and all mushrooms): beet, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumber, all cabbage varieties, fresh beans, fresh romane lettuce, fresh peas, parsnip, all pepper varieties, all squash varieties, sweet potatoes, tomato, turnip, yams, zucchini.
- Pellets specifically formulated for small tropical Parrot species.
- Other fat-free, healthy and nutritious human foods.
Adding these foods provides additional nutrients and can prevent obesity and lipomas, as can substituting millet, which is relatively low in fat, for higher-fat seed mixes. Adult Parrotlets often do not always adapt readily to dietary additions, so care must be taken to introduce healthy diets as young as possible (ideally weaned onto fresh foods before introducing chicks onto seeds). Parrotlets like any other Parrots learn mainly by mimicry and thus most adult Parrotlets will be easily encouraged to try new foods by observing another bird eating the food, or by placing the new food on a mirror.
Parrot species (including Parrotlets) are biologically vegetarian species. Consequently, they should be fed vegetarian diets that are ideally supplemented with vegetal Proteins. Produced by the combination of any type of whole grain/cereal with any type of legume/pulse. Eggs (hard-boiled and/or scrambled) are the only one appropriately healthy source of animal proteins. Mostly for birds in either breeding, growing, moulting and/or recovering conditions. High levels of proteins (most particularly animal proteins) is unhealthy for Parrotlets and any other Parrot species living under any alternate conditions (i.e. non-breeding, pets).
Pellets
Most Avian Vets & knowledged Aviculturists agree that pellets should represent between 30 to 50% of any Parrot's total daily diet. The % varies depending on various aspects such as ; - particular species (Afro-Asian Ringnecked Parakeets, African Greys, Amazons, Cockatoos, Conures, Grass Parakeets, Lories, Lovebirds, Macaws, Parrotlets, Pionus...), - lifestyles (pet &/or breeder), - developpement stages (growing chick, juvenile, adult...), - in &/or outs of breeding seasons...
Tropical species such as Amazons, Conures, King Parrots, Macaws, Parrotlets.. . should be offered diets where pellets represent a greater part and about 1/2 to 2/3 of their daily diets.
General
Forpus
Forpus, the best-known genus of parrotlet, includes all species of parrotlet commonly kept as pets including the celestial (aka pacific) Parrotlet, green-rumped Parrotlet, blue-winged Parrotlet, Mexican Parrotlet, and the spectacled Parrotlet. Also the yellow-faced Parrotlet, larger than other Parrotlets and only found in a single valley in NW Peru they are still part of the "Forpus" group.
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.
External links
- Forpus.com has plenty of information on parrotlets for owners and those thinking about bringing one into their lives.
- Parrotlets Webpage Is a website dedicated to these wonderful little parrots, with advice on mutations and sexing your parrotlets.
- Care and diet information.
- Toofav.com presents parrotlets Live video feed of parrotlets at play and sleep.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
