Scientific Facts
| Common Name: | Pacific Parrotlet |
| Scientific Name: | Forpus Coelestis |
| Life Span: | 10-15 years |
| Size: | 4 to 5.5 inches |
| Habitat: | Tropical forests and shrubland |
| Country of Origin: | Mexico, Central, and South America |
Physical Description
Pacific parrotlets are greatly charming with their pint-sized parrot appearances. They commonly grow with an approximate length of 4 to 5.5 inches. Their tails are tiny and dainty. They have large heads and curved beaks. They have zygodactyl feet, which means that the two toes point foremost and another two toes direct toward the backside. The dominating hint of Pacific parrotlet is green, in various shades. They have wings that are a mainly darker green, while the head and bellies are duller, astonishing green tone.
The male Pacific parrotlet is green with a blue streak dash trailing the eye. On the upper portions of male Pacific parrotlet, its mantle, lesser wing coverts, and upper back to scapulars and focal secondaries are greenish-grey. The rump and lower back, as well as the primary and secondary coverts, bases of focal primaries, and outer secondaries are cobalt-blue. The tail is short and green. The green lower parts are grey on breast sides and flanks. The lesser coverts, underwing, and axillaries are cobalt-blue, and the undertail is pale green. The head, crown, forehead, throat, and cheeks are dazzling yellowish-green, creating a transparent facial structure. You will also notice a blue post visual stripe connecting into the blue-gray neck sides, hind crown, and nape. It has a horn-colored bill. The feet and legs are dull brownish-pink. Their eyes are brown.
The female Pacific parrotlet, on the other hand, does not have the blue hint on the wings and interchanged with emerald-green, and can either have or not have the slight blue dash trailing the eye. It has a greener and less yellowish facial mask. The lower parts are evenly green.
The juvenile looks like with the female, although its upperparts are green, and the head is mainly green. The young male has a rump that is bluish-green.
Lifespan
Pacific parrotlets have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years. This means that they can be an absolute long-time comrade. However, although these creatures are expected to live longer than other kinds of animals, their life expectancy is still measured by the way they are taken cared for by their owners. Without a doubt, these birds cannot survive an environment that is non-conducive to their living. If you want your parrotlet to live longer and healthier, you have to make sure that you provide them the necessary care and assistance.
Eating Habits
Pacific parrotlets have very high metabolisms and should have foods readily available at any time. They are acknowledged for their greedy appetites and prosper on a different diet. They will consume hours every day in trees where they madly search for seeds and fruits or in clay cliffs that fill out their diet and inhibit medical concerns. Their diet is commonly composed of superior quality commercial pellets, bird-safe vegetables and fruits, little seeds like millet, and nutritious sources of protein like eggs.
Sleeping Habits
Pacific parrotlet is an excellent size for an adorable birdie tent. These creatures prefer to sleep on these or in swings, although they can be combative in the tent the moment they become mature and their nature for nesting ponies up. Taking out the tent can restraint them if you observe this behavior.
Development and Reproduction
Pacific parrotlets may breed in any period of the year. Nevertheless, breeding is not encouraged during the winter season and when the weather is extremely hot. They breed in nest boxes or hollow logs bounded with pine shavings or sawdust. A nest box formed for a lovebird or identical small parrot is great; however, put in mind that various birds have various preferences for the shape and size of their nest box.
Most parrotlets like a nest box opening just sufficiently big to pinch through. Thus, a split hatch for inspection and cleaning must be incorporated into the nest box. Various nesting containers must be given to identify which the pair likes to use. Antiquated boxed must be taken out once laying has started.
She lays 4 to 8 eggs and solely incubates within 3 weeks while the male parrotlet shields her as well as the nest. Both the male and female feed the chicks that fledge around 4 weeks after hatching. These creatures may create a second brood around 7 to 8 after the fledging.
How to Breed
Determining the Sexes
Pacific parrotlets are dimorphic. It means that there is a distinguishable uniqueness between the sexes, which makes it more doable to select pairs among adult birds. Males are determined through the bright blue splashes found behind their eyes and on their backs.
Courtship and Mating
Once a Pacific parrotlet binds with a selected mate, it stays a loyal and devoted partner for the rest of its life. At the commencement of the season of breeding, some demonstrations may be noticed in the course of pair formation. During these demonstrations, the blue rump is improved by adapted stances. Once paired, the female parrotlet searches for man-made support or a hollow cavity in a tree. She clears up the hole, taking out the debris and at times, broadening the cavity intended for the clutch. She may also utilize a used and old nest that was deserted by other species of birds, including the old nests of Furnariidae. However, she can also utilize a hole in other man-made construction or fencepost.
Eggs and Incubation
Generally, Pacific parrotlets lay 4 to 8 eggs. Young or immature birds can lay as lean as two. The mother will solely incubate the eggs for approximately 3 weeks. After hatching, the immature birds will stay in the nest for 4 weeks before fledgling. Roughly 2 weeks after fledging, these birds shall be entirely sovereign from their parents.
The young birds must be taken out from the aviary the moment they have turn sovereign to inhibit hostility and to inspire the hen to start laying another clutch. Every pair must be bounded to a maximum of 2 clutches every year to inhibit debilitation due to over-breeding.
Common Health Problems
Parrot Fever
Parrot fever is brought by a bacteria named chlamydophila psittaci. Birds may experience droopy eyes, difficulty in breathing, runny stools, and lethargy. This infection largely affects the hookbills. If you notice your bird has these symptoms, immediately consult your trusted vet to give your bird the right treatment. Commonly, birds diagnosed with this illness are placed on antibiotics.
Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)
PBFD is a serious illness that stamps out the immune system of the bird, leading to susceptibility to infections and other diseases. All kinds of parrots are vulnerable to this illness. This disease is demonstrated by skin lesions, abnormal growth of beak, feather loss, and arrested feather development.
Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD)
PDD affects the digestive system and the nervous system. This illness will lead the bird to experience gastric upset, depression, undigested food found in feces, incapacity to fly or perch, and heart tremors and seizure. If you happen to see these symptoms in your bird, immediately bring it to your veterinarian. This illness is contagious. It would be necessary to isolate the affected bird once it is diagnosed with PDD.
Giardia
Giardia is a kind of protozoan disease that typically affects the cage birds. Birds with this illness will experience dry skin and diarrhea. This illness is curable and managed with proper hygiene and medication. You should consult your veterinarian if you think your bird is affected by this illness to get proper medication.
Preventing Illnesses
Even though Pacific parrotlets are comparably healthy, annual exams done by a veterinarian shall ensure that your pet stays in good health condition. Know the common symptoms of illness and check your bird for any symptoms. Common symptoms are coughing, loss of appetite, change in stool color, fluffed feathers, beak swelling, and abnormal blemish on the cere.
Behavior
Pacific parrotlets are colorful, captivating, and smart creatures. They are very vivacious, and they can be intrusive, too, if unattended for too long without supervision. Although these creatures are very little, men cannot undervalue the strength of their beak. These pint-measured parrots do not appear to grasp that they are tiny because they possess the personality of a large bird – gregarious, inquisitive, and at times outright gutsy. They are somewhat naughty and become impulsive without the right handling. They are persistent and friendly. Parrotlets are characterized to be dimorphic and simple to pair up, and they get pleasure in being together. Pacific parrotlets can also be kept quietly in groups in huge aviaries. However, you should keep them separated from other species. They wrangle and the battle over territory and object.
Male and female Pacific parrotlets are equally great companions based on the individual. Gender is not a big factor in companionship; rather, it is directly affected by socialization and handling. Parrotlets that are hand-fed are very affable, particularly if the owner spends time with the bird. If abandoned for too long, alone parrotlet may be deprived of some of its companionships. The Pacific parrotlet, to be specific, does not recognize its small size, and has a bit of difficulty confronting humans and other animals. They can be in trouble, especially when placed in a home with cats and dogs, because they do not back off from the hunter.
The transformations are believed to be more smooth sailing than the designate green hint, but they also considered less tough. This can be an output of inbreeding. Considering its cute size, Pacific parrotlets can make a great companion for kids. They can be excitable, and their bites compact a blow. They are not noisy, thus making them perfect for apartments. They have a voice that is nearly murmur-soft, and their word-stock can stretch 10 to 15 words, which are comparably remarkable for their size. Chirps and screeches are customary as they are commonly very vocal. However, it is nothing that can disturb the near neighborhood. They will rehash simple phrases and words but are not popular to be the best talkers in the family of parrotlets. Pacific parrotlets can grasp the ability to mimic. Some can talk so well, although they are not particularly observed with this ability. If tamed properly, these birds can make affectionate and adorable.
Even though they are little, Pacific parrotlets have the personality of a large bird and need just equal attention.
Habitat
Cage
Pacific parrotlets may be small in size. However, that does not imply that a small cage can work for them. Remember that these birds are very energetic and require lots of room space to fly all over. An extensive and wide cage with a bar spacing of ¼ inch is recommended to ensure that the bird cannot escape if left unattended. The minimum measurement of the cage must be 18 inches square. For two or more parrotlets, you will need to have even bigger cages, ideally 28 x 24 x 36 inches for two birds. The wider space you can offer, the happier the parrotlets will be. Considering that these creatures love to relax on trees, secure some ropes and softwood branches for perching.
You can also keep a nest box inside the cage. The nest box should have a minimum measurement of 6 x 6 x 6 inches, giving the bird a secure breeding place.
Position the cage in the portion of the home that is frequently traveled. You will want to ensure that the one side is opposite to the wall, though, for the parrotlet to go away from a crowded room whenever it wants. You cannot place the cage in the kitchen since smoke and cooking fumes are harmful to the parrotlets. See to it that it is not positioned directly to the sunlight.
Clean the cage at least once a month. The liners must be changed every day. The food and water containers must be thoroughly cleaned daily. There are times that you will need to clean the cage more than once, depending on the numbers of the birds as well as their habits. Make sure to pull out the parrotlets first before cleaning the cage with cleaning supplies. Fumes can be harmful to the bird.
Perches
Place various kinds of perches inside the cage. To inhibit problems and injuries on the feet, give them at least 3 or 4 various sizes and kinds of perches. You may use the conventional swinging perch, then a rope perch, and a branch-type perch. There are different kinds of perches available. You may want to try several kinds to check which one your pet prefers. Bear in mind that diversity is ideal for parrotlets.
Toys
These birds are dynamic, and they require a play space and a lot of toys to keep them occupied. They are curious little birds and may divert to your things if you do not give them their toys. Shreddable toys like the parrot kabobs are one of the favorites of Pacific parrotlets.
Proposing new kinds of stuff, from toys to the cage to the ladders, will keep them busy and entertained. Bells, beads, swings, knotted rope, wood, and leather are other favorites of parrotlets, although anything that is lustrous and dazzlingly colored shall catch their interest.
A random branch per week can be enjoyable and help restraint the instinct of the bird to climb and chew. You may make combing challenges which will examine the food hunting capabilities of your bird. Determining the appropriate toys for your Pacific parrotlet may need some cut and try, but almost all parrotlets enjoy toys which they can shred apart. See to it that you offer a variety, and change out the toys to continuously entertain your birds. Do not use toys with risks such as wire, string, and movable parts.
Temperature
Even though Pacific parrotlets flourish in a temperature that varies from 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, they are believed to endure a wider range of 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Nevertheless, it is recommended to secure these creatures from severe temperatures.
Diet
Pacific parrotlets should have a diet that is pellet-based and should be complemented with fresh vegetables and fruits, and also some seeds. They require a source of calcium such as cuttlebone. Sliced vegetables and fruits are essential for the birds. Owners should have a list of parrotlet-friendly vegetables and fruits such as kiwi, celery, green beans, pomegranates, peas, apples, corn, carrots, pears, oranges, and bananas. There is no need to cook the vegetables. However, if you use frozen vegetables, see to it that they are properly thawed. Set aside little allocations of seeds and nuts – but remember not to exceed more than one serving a day. Dietary enrichment for calcium is essential. Cuttlebones, which are shells of cuttlefish, are great for these objectives. In case there are leftovers, remove them after around a day.
You cannot feed your Pacific parrotlets with onions, avocados, spinach, and other kinds of vegetables containing Oxalic acids like peppers and beets. You cannot give them some tomatoes, starfruit, and grapefruit, too.
Place the food in containers. You will want something durable so that your parrotlet cannot easily damage it using their beaks. Parrotlets are used to the food at the lower part of the cage, thus inhibit the kind that hooks up to the cage. See to it that it does not have a hood or cover since a lot of parrotlets will not put their head with that type of container.
For each meal, serve your parrotlet some food that is around 12 percent of the body weight. This bird weighs around 33 grams; thus, you will want to serve food that is around 4 grams in every meal. Nevertheless, since many parrotlets self-manage, you may store more food than that in there, particularly of the pellet variation. You would want to clear out extra decaying food at least once daily.
It is also important to provide the Pacific parrotlet water. Use a container when giving your birds water. You would want to replenish the water once or two times a day. You may even consider using bottled water, but not the distilled one. A water bottle is better for a dish since Pacific parrotlets happen to acquire more infections if they use a water dish, regardless if it is cleaned regularly.
How to Care for Pacific Parrotlet
Even though Pacific parrotlets are relatively small, they are not low-maintenance. Naturally, they can be cleaned up easier as compared to the bigger birds. Nevertheless, they need socialization and require daily handling to keep them manageable. Dulled parrotlets may turn catastrophic. This may include gnawing things in your home, nipping people, or can even result in the plucking of feathers, which can make a major health concern. Daily attention, positive support, and proper training is the best method to fight these issues.
With that being said, in comparison to other parrots, Pacific parrotlets are fairly good at fascinating themselves. Just make sure to provide a lot of toys inside their cage. You must take extra caution when the parrotlet is out of the cage. Remember that these pets are very small and fragile that it is not difficult to encounter an accident if they are bouncing all over the furniture or if they are on the floor. To avoid this, set your limits early on. Owners can teach them to stay on a play stand; they just have to be attentive about the framework the parrotlets back on them each time they get off.
If an owner longs to get a great companion, it is recommended that they only get one bird. A pair of parrotlets may likely bind closely to the extent of excluding the owner. These pets are frequently seen nudging their heads out of the shirt’s pocket of their owners for an immediate petting on the head.
If you plan to get your Pacific parrotlet, make sure that you can secure a bird-safe place for your parrotlet to play in for at least 1 to 2 hours a day. Parrotlets need to be freed from their cages so they can exercise the muscles in their legs and extend their wings to manage their mental and physical health. To guarantee good health and hygiene, provide your parrotlet regular baths.
Allocate enough playtime with your pet. This shall help the parrotlet keep from getting sharp and territorial. You would want the pet to sense like it is a part of the group, hence, make sure to reach out with the bird often. This is the support to successfully train the bird. If you cannot manage and handle your bird, then it is most likely that you will have difficulty training it.
Where to Get One?
The Pacific parrotlets are popular pets that are commonly available in pet stores, bird breeders, and avian-specialty stores. Knowing that there are several options to choose from when getting this pet, one has to be smart enough to determine which one to transact with. Many would-be selling these small creatures, but not all of them can be offering good and quality parrotlets. You would not like to get weak and sick parrotlet. That will only bring you trouble both financially and emotionally.
Among the species of parrotlets, the designate color is differing hints of green, and certain species, such as the Pacific parrotlet, come in an array of mutations like lutino, white, yellow, blue, darker green, fallow, albino, cinnamon, and pastel.
FAQs
Will it take a lot of care if I get a Pacific Parrotlet?
All pets need lots of care, and that includes your Pacific parrotlet. If you are serious about becoming a handler of this pet, you must be committed to ample time and effort if you want it to live longer. You cannot waste the life of this special creature; thus, you have to be a responsible owner.
Can I train my Pacific parrotlet not to be nippy?
Yes, you can train your pet not to be nippy, but you will need to have patience. Make sure to set limitations. Each time they nip, put them again in the cage, and move away from the situation. Eventually, your pet will stop when it senses that it will be deprived of your care and attention.
How to keep my parrotlet healthy?
The best way to keep your parrotlet healthy is to take care of it properly. A balanced diet is essential for its health. Feed your pet superior quality pellets, complemented with fresh and bird-safe vegetables and fruits. You should also know about their ideal environment. Keep them happy by giving them toys and, most importantly, develop a special bond with your pet.
I am planning to buy it as a gift for a friend, is it a good idea?
If you think your friend can be a responsible owner and he has special care for parrotlets, then Pacific parrotlet can be a great gift for your friend. Just make sure that he knows how to properly handle this pet.
