Parrotlets

Mini-parrots with a lot of personality

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Types

Fast Facts

Videos

Training

Education

Gifts

Stories

Parrotlets are exactly as their names describe...They have a parrot-sized personality in a lovebird-sized package.

These birds are the smallest parrots kept as pets and they have about the same size personality as an Amazon. However, unlike Amazons, these birds are great for first-time owners. They are entertaining and playful, and they can even learn to talk and do tricks! Their tiny voices are such a joy and they will never cease to amaze you.

These sassy birds are fearless and just don't realize how small they are. They may become aggressive to other birds (even much larger ones) and may become one-person birds if they are not socialized with multiple people on a regular basis. You should handle them everyday or they may lose their tameness and become nippy. Just like having an Amazon, make sure you set clear boudaries early on with these little guys or they may not lose their childhood nippiness.

These little birds enjoy human companionship, but they also don't have a problem playing on their own. For this reason, most are not needy or demanding. The most commonly kept species is the Pacific Parrotlet. They are such a pleasure and if you would like a larger parrot but don't have the room or the experience, then these birds might be a great choice for you.

Types of Parrotlets
Blue-Winged	Green-Rumped	Pacific	Yellow-Faced

Fast Facts

Name

Parrotlet (Forpus)

Origin

Mexico, South America, Caribbean Islands

Size

5 in., 20-30 grams

Color Differences

They are mostly green, but some are blue and lutino. Males have intense blue markings while females have lighter blue markings.

Average Cost

$100-300

Lifespan

20-30 years

Noise

Quiet--they are able to live in an apartment with you.

Qualities

Smart, outgoing, curious, spunky, affectionate, playful, fearless (don't realize how small they are), comical, enjoy human companionship, able to entertain themselves, like to learn tricks, enjoy bathing, clownish, entertaining, sassy, can be moody, can be nippy, may be territorial, may become one-person birds if not socialized enough, can be aggressive toward other birds, get into all kinds of mischief.

Abilities

Good--They can learn to talk (mostly males) and some have learn vocabularies of around 100 words! They are also trainable and they like to learn tricks.

Interaction/Time Requirements

They need daily interaction to make sure they keep their tameness and socializing them with more than one person on a regular basis will help them not become one-person birds.

Diet

They need a diet for small birds

Supplies Needed

They need supplies for small birds

See How Parrotlets Compare to Other Types of Pet Birds!

Parrotlet Videos
"Talking Parrotlet plays peek-a-boo"
Video by jxh0703 Parrotlets are talented birds that can learn to talk and learn tricks. This video shows just how cute and talented they can be!
"Jake the talking laughing parrotlet"
Video by kelxoxbel22 Parrotlets are also very loving and affectionate. This is a great video of a Parrotlet interacting with (and mimicking!) his owner.

Parrotlet Training

Parrotlets are often seen as nippy birds. You definitely need to know how to train your Parrotlet if you want him to be hand tamed and enjoy spending time with you and your friends/family. However, if you don't know how to train a Parrotlet, you may have difficulty even getting your bird out of his cage.

For this reason, we highly recommend that you find an effective training program for your Parrotlet. Whether your Parrotlet is new to your home or you've had him for years, a training program will always come in handy. We personally recommend the Bird Tricks Parrot Training Course by Chet Womach. You can see many of his videos for free to get an idea of how much he knows about birds and how he can help you train yours.

Below is one of Chet's videos that covers the first step to getting your Cockatiel to step up instead of bite you. This technique is perfect for Parrotlets as well. This video is a great example of how effective the training courses can be and how they are filled with a wealth of useful information for any bird owner. This video is only the first step in getting your small bird hand tamed. We highly recommend checking out Chet's curriculum for taming your Parrotlet even further.

For more information about Chet's course, you can visit the Bird Tricks webpage here.

Parrotlet Education

Parrotlet Gifts
Here are some fun gifts for the Parrotlet lover in your life. And if you are a Parrotlet lover, then these are some fun items to show your pride. You know you want to!

Parrotlet Stories

Have A Great Story About Your Parrotlets?

Share your experience with others! There's no better way to learn about a pet bird than from an owner.

Some helpful information for potential owners can be: What is the species of your bird? Is he/she friendly? Loving? Cuddly? Talented? Messy? Loud? You get the idea!

Your story may just help someone decide whether or not this pet bird is for them.

Enter Your Title

Click here to see the rest of the form and complete your story.

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