Parrotlet

Parrotlets are a group of the smallest New World parrot species, comprising several genera, namely Forpus, Nannopsittaca, and Touit. They have stocky builds and short tails and are endemic to Middle and South America.[1] They resemble the lovebirds of Africa in size, body shape and behaviour and have sometimes been referred to as "South American lovebirds", but are not closely related.[2]

Parrotlet
A pet male Pacific parrotlet (Forpus coelestis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Psittaciformes
Family:
Psittacidae
Tribe:
Arini
Genera

Forpus
Touit
Nannopsittaca

In the wild, parrotlets travel in flocks ranging in size from about four to over a hundred birds. Most species travel in flocks of about five to forty. They form lifelong, tight pair bonds with their chosen mates.

Behavior

If left alone for too long, a single parrotlet can lose some of its companionability. The Pacific parrotlet, in particular, does not understand that it is a tiny bird, and has little trouble challenging other animals and humans.[3] Parrotlets in general are feisty, affectionate, and willful. Parrotlets should be housed separately due to their aggressive nature. Even bonded pairs have been known to kill or injure a mate. For this reason, most parrotlet species should not be kept in aviaries and it is best to keep them separate from other species.

Parrotlet species

The following species within three genera are considered to be parrotlets:

Forpus

Touit

The Touit parrotlets are a genus of parrotlets found in the Venezuela-Guyana area, the northern Andes, and Bahia. Only three of the seven species have ever been brought into aviculture, none successfully.

Nannopsittaca

There are only two species in the genus Nannopsittaca.

References
  1. Forshaw, Joseph (2006). Parrots of the World. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. p. 123. ISBN 0-691-09251-6.
  2. Grindol, Diane. "Lovebird or Parrotlet?". Lafeber. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  3. "They May be Small, but Parrotlets Have a Big Bird Personality".
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