Parrotlets

We are no longer breeding Parrotlets. We will continue to provide our web pages on Parrotlet care and breeding, but will no longer be able to answer Parrotlet questions due to limited time. See our Parrotlet Resource page for links to other useful Parrotlet websites, chat groups and organizations.
Please visit our Caique and Brotogeris Parakeet webpages


Many different species of Parrots come from South America. The brilliantly colored large Macaws share much of the same regions with the Parrotlet, the tiniest of all parrots. Parrotlets range from the foothills along the west coast of Mexico to the southernmost parts of Brazil, and from the east coast to the west coast of South America. This small fearless bird belongs in the Genus called Forpus. After many years of keeping and breeding Parrotlets, I am convinced that these little 4 to 5 inch tall birds are a miniature version of the large Amazons we are all familiar with. When you think of a Parrotlet, think of a tiny Amazon with the heart of the Gladiator, the playful antics of a circus clown and the determination of a worker bee. They don't require a lot of space, they can be kept in an apartment without fear of problems with your neighbors. I've even known of a few college students that kept a Parrotlet in their college dorms. One of the nicest things about a Parrotlet is that they don't scream like larger parrots. Males will sometimes sing a very pleasant song, especially when courting a female. Parrotlets can be a good starter bird for novices wishing to go on to keeping and breeding larger birds. Another bonus is the fact that all Forpus Parrotlets are sexually dimorphic. This means that the sex of the bird can be determined by visual observation. Setting up breeding pairs is easy to do and doesn't require surgical or genetic sexing. There are new color mutations of Parrotlets being developed which makes breeding these little jewels very exciting! Parrotlets are capable of talking, although their ability is somewhat limited. With patience and perseverance, a young Parrotlet may learn to say several words, whistle, and repeat sounds. A hand fed Parrotlet kept by it's self can make an adorable pet. I don't recommend keeping two or more together for pets since, like larger parrots, they are likely to bond to each other and then have no need for human interaction. These tiny birds are the true terriers of the parrot world. Without the rivalry of another bird, a Parrotlet will remain quite tame and be a delightful, loving pet. A Parrotlet may live to be 20 years old if cared for properly giving its family many years of enjoyment. If you like a bold confident type of bird that is also impish and entertaining, a Parrotlet is your type of bird.