Pacific or Celestial ParrotletSize: 4-5” Small parrot with short tail.
Life Span: 20 years with proper care and diet. Origin: Mexico, Central and South America. Understanding Parrotlets Parrotlets, affectionately known as "pocket parrots," are charming, miniature-sized, true parrots. The second smallest of the parrots, the only one that is smaller is the pygmy parrot which is not kept in captivity. Many people describe Parrotlets as miniature Amazons. This is because their personality, character and nature are closest to their larger cousins. They do resemble the Amazons, with short, stout bodies and a somewhat blunt tail. They are bold, confident, playful, clownish, fearless and determined. They are easy and inexpensive to maintain due to their small size and are nowhere as destructive as most of the larger birds. Parrotlets are the quietest hook-bills; they are incapable of screaming and do not squawk. They chirp and can, at times, have loud chirps, but even a canary is louder. They are much quieter than budgies and cockatiels, and can be kept in a small apartment without fear of complaints from the neighbors. A hand-fed Parrotlet kept singly can make a wonderful pet. I do not recommend keeping two or more together as pets because they are likely to bond to each other and as a result, have no need for human interaction. They are not considered a “one person” parrot, which makes them a good family bird. The Pacific Parrotlet has become one of the more popular small birds in the country, and is the most common of the various parrotlet species. They have the personality of a “large bird in a small bird’s body.” The male has a blue streak behind the eye and blue on the rump and always on the wing coverts. Females generally lack the blue coloring, and may or may not have a faint blue streak behind the eye and never have the blue on the wing coverts. |
Personality and Behavior
Parrotlets in general are feisty, affectionate, and willful. Unless introduced at a very young age, it may be best to keep them separate from other species. They will quibble and fight over objects and territory. Males and females make equally good companions depending on the individual. Companionability has much less to do with gender than it does with handling and socialization. Hand-fed parrotlets are very friendly, especially if the guardian takes the time to keep handling the bird. If left alone for too long, a single parrotlet can lose some of its companionability. Parrotlets are very spirited, and can become aggressive if left for too long without handling. Most parrots bite on occasion. Even though it is tiny, do not underestimate the strong beak; its bite is much stronger than a budgie. Most birds can be trained not to bite. Although training is easier with a newly weaned baby rather than an adult bird, hope is never lost with proper care and guidance. Birds, like most pets, thrive on attention, so they will appreciate all the time you can possibly spend with them. You should commit to at least 15 minutes of one-on-one attention every day. Don’t be afraid to go to work or school because they can entertain themselves but they will want to spend time with you as soon as you get back. The cage should generally be kept in the family room or near the kitchen or where there is family activity going on, because they like to be around people and see what's going on. Care and Feeding Parrotlets might be small but that doesn’t mean that a small cage will do. A spacious wide cage with 1/4 inch bar spacing is ideal. These are active birds that need their play space and plenty of toys to keep them busy. Parrot kabobs and other shred-able toys are parrotlet favorites, and they also like swings and boings. Parrotlets should have a pellet-based diet supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables. You might have to dice up their fruit so they can sink their tiny beaks into it. Generally they like their fresh food minced fairly small and one of the smallest pellet sizes you can find. Many parrots and especially parrotlets, tend to like to “dip” their food or soak it in their water in order to soften it for eating. Parrotlets also love to bathe in their water dish so it’s important to keep their water dishes fresh and clean to avoid bacteria build up. This should be done daily. Health and Common Conditions A parrotlet’s curiosity, combined with its small size, can make it accident-prone and being stepped on can pose a real hazard. The main cause of parrotlet death (and parrots in general) is when an owner takes a nap with their bird and rolls over on it and crushes it. It is recommended to never sleep with your bird. |
Want to watch a short video of us training a parrotlet? Here you go, enjoy.