Parrotlet

Forpus coelestis Pacific parrotlet, the most popular parrotlet species

Tiny parrots from the dry tropical forests of South America's Tumbesian region. Parrotlets have the attitude of a much bigger bird.

Watch the full video Read parrotlet posts

Native to South America Quiet chirper

Size: About 12.5 cm About 33 g
Lifespan: 15–20 years Up to 20–30 with good care
Noise level: Quiet Chirps, quieter than budgies
Talking ability: Limited Not a talker like the Amazon
Minimum cage: 18 inches Wide, tall and deep

Know your parrotlet

Small enough to fit in a hand, with a personality that does not match the size.

A big-bird attitude

Their closest relative is the much larger Amazon parrot, and the two share looks, energy and temperament. Parrotlets cannot talk like Amazons, but they make up for it with a sassy personality.

Telling males from females

Wild-colored parrotlets are easy to sex by their blue markings.

MalesBright blue behind the eyes, on the wings and sometimes on the rump

FemalesNo blue, or very faint blue behind the eyes

One bird or two

Parrotlets are highly intelligent and form strong bonds with people, but they need daily interaction. They can live in pairs, though a single parrotlet usually bonds more closely with its owner.

Colors

Wild parrotlets are green. Mutations can hide the blue markings, so a DNA test is the most reliable way to sex a bird.

Blue

One of the most common. No yellow pigment, so shades run from sky blue to deep cobalt and pastel slate gray.

Lutino

Yellow or creamy white with pink or red eyes. Males have white on the wings where the blue would be.

Albino

The rarest. A mix of blue and lutino, fully white with pink eyes, feet and beak, and almost impossible to sex by eye.

Turquoise

A pastel blend of blue and green in place of the wild green.

Care basics

What a parrotlet needs every day, taken from the full video.

Diet

Wild parrotlets eat berries, seeds and flowers. Offer fruit such as apple, banana, grape, orange and kiwi a few times a week. Avocado, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, garlic and onion are toxic.

Housing

At least 18 inches (46 cm) wide, tall and deep, with bar spacing narrow enough to prevent escape. Go larger if the bird spends long hours inside.

Perches and toys

Varied perches, foraging toys and shreddable toys made of natural fiber, leather and soft wood. Rotate toys every couple of weeks.

Time out of the cage

1 to 3 hours of supervised time a day to fly, play and bond. They are small and fast, so watch them closely.

Bird-proofing

Block tight spaces, close toilet lids, cover vents and remove unsafe plants before letting a parrotlet roam.

Bathing

Parrotlets are not dusty like cockatiels, but regular baths or misting keep their feathers clean and healthy.

YouTube

Parrotlet videos

All parrotlet videos on YouTube

Full species video

Personality, telling males from females, colors, diet, cage setup, bird-proofing and the challenges to know before getting one.

1Introduction
2Personality
3Males and females
4Colors
5Care
6Challenges
7Summary

Watch on YouTube

Is a parrotlet right for you?

Parrotlets are tiny parrots with huge personalities, bold and playful. Their small size does not mean easy care, but with daily commitment they become bright, funny and loyal companions.