Parrotlets
These little blue and green birds are not just beautiful but are entertaining and have quite the attitude. They are the smallest of the New World Parrots. They are commonly referred to as the Pocket Parrot. Although, don't be fooled by their size, they still act a lot like a African Grey. They are generally considered to be a one person bird.
Origin: Trinidad, Jamaica, Venezuela, Columbia, Bolivia, and Peru
Family: Parrot
Life Span: 15 to 20 years
Size: 3 to 6 inches
Family: Parrot
Life Span: 15 to 20 years
Size: 3 to 6 inches
Parrotlet Behavior: Good Things Can Come in Small Packages
They are tiny birds that are packed full of attitude and personality. Parrotlets have very big attitudes and they will let you know. They are also know as being bitey, especially toward anyone that is not their favorite person. They are best with only one person that will give them a lot of attention. They can be very independent but if you continue to give them plenty attention, they will also be loving birds. Although, you don't have to handle them daily to keep these birds tame but they still need plenty of opportunities for them to play and be active. These birds can learn to talk, of course the females are less likely to talk than the males. These little birds are also very fearless, so you must be careful if you have any other pets. Parrotlets will not back down and think they can take on any size animal. They don't seem to understand their size but think that they are the size of an Amazon or Macaw. Parrotlets can become territorial and don't understand the concept of sharing. They do much better when their favorite person is only paying attention to them instead of another bird. They may even become abusive of a spouse. When the Parrotlet is territorial, its not just for it's cage and person but this includes food and toys. If there is any food in the area, this little bird will chase off any other bird around. It may also be wise to remove the bird from it's cage before changing toys or giving food and water. If these birds notice a fleeting motion after biting at you, it may try harder next time or even making a game out of it.
Parrotlet Noise Level: Quiet as a Church Mouse
Parrotlets are commonly known apartment birds. They not loud at all, even when they are angry, they are not loud just faster. They usually just chirp every once in a while or when they want you to pay attention to them. When they are angry its more of a chatter that is quite fast.
Common Problems
Bite, Bite, Bite: These birds are often known to be cuddly and active however, they do become bitey. It may be that the bird is molting or having a bad day. The key is to know how to get through it. They need to stay familiar with handling with towels and stepping up on sticks. This will help because once you get a Parrotlet out of the cage, it is usually easier to handle when being in a bad mood. Usually this is just a phase so don't start to neglect your bird because continuing to handle them daily will help in the long run.