Parrotlet
Encyclopedia
Parrotlets are a group of the smallest New World parrot species, comprising several genera, namely Forpus
, Nannopsittaca
, and Touit
. They have a stocky build and a broad tail, much like the lovebird
s of East Africa
and fig parrot
s and pygmy parrot
s of Australasia. They are endemic to Middle
and South America
.
These miniature parrots in the wild travel in flocks which, depending on the species, can range from as low as four to over 100 birds. Most species travel in flocks of about 5–40. They form life-long and tight pair bonds with their chosen mates.
Parrotlets are the smallest commonly bred Parrot species in captivity. The genus Forpus, particularly the Celestial or Pacific Parrotlet
, is growing in availability and popularity in aviculture
.
includes all the species of parrotlet commonly kept as pets.
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.
, of which only one — the Tepui Parrotlet
, has been successfully kept in captivity.
is by far the Celestial or Pacific Parrotlet
. The Mexican Parrotlet
, Spectacled Parrotlet
, and Yellow-faced Parrotlet
are also fairly common pets. Their popularity as pets has grown due to their small size and large personalities. Parrotlets are commonly known as playful birds that enjoy chewing as much as their larger Amazon counterparts. Being highly intelligent and active parrots, parrotlets must have ample opportunities to play and exercise. Environmental enrichment must be made a part of their lives as to prevent boredom. Parrotlets keep themselves more than occupied when left alone for several hours, so long as they are provided with an array of chewable and destructible toys to play with. However, when their keepers get home, they often greet them with lovely chirps and whistles to let them know they want attention. They can mimic speech with a somewhat impressive vocabulary though their voice is very small. Males mimic better than females do. They can be very territorial inside their cages and may try to bite if a human reaches in, even to feed them. They consider the cage to be their sole territory. But the same bird, when outside his cage, can be very affectionate--flying over to land on your shoulder, eating out of your mouth, and cuddling. They do not seem to know how tiny they are, and may not be afraid of cats or dogs. Their personalities are the same as much larger parrots, so like small dogs they may try to attack other pets. On the other hand, if properly introduced they may befriend them.
Adding these foods provides additional nutrients and can prevent obesity
and lipoma
s, as can substituting millet
, which is relatively low in fat
, for higher-fat seed mixes. Adult parrotlets often do not always adapt readily to dietary additions, so care must be taken to introduce healthy diets as young as possible (ideally weaned onto fresh foods before introducing chicks onto seeds). Parrotlets like other Parrots learn mainly by mimicry and thus most adult parrotlets will be easily encouraged to try new foods by observing another bird eating the food, or by placing the new food on a mirror.
Parrot species (including parrotlets) are herbivores. Consequently, they should be fed vegetarian diets that are ideally supplemented with vegetal proteins. Produced by the combination of any type of whole grain/cereal with any type of legume/pulse. Eggs (hard-boiled and/or scrambled) are the only appropriately healthy source of animal proteins. Mostly for birds in either breeding, growing, moulting and/or recovering conditions. High levels of proteins (most particularly animal proteins) is unhealthy for Parrotlets and any other Parrot species living under any alternate conditions (i.e. non-breeding, pets).
Forpus
Forpus is a genus of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It contains the following species:* Mexican Parrotlet * Green-rumped Parrotlet * Blue-winged Parrotlet...
, Nannopsittaca
Nannopsittaca
Nannopsittaca is a genus of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It contains the following species:* Tepui Parrotlet * Manu Parrotlet...
, and Touit
Touit
Touit is a genus of Neotropical parrots in the Psittacidae family.It contains the following species:* Lilac-tailed Parrotlet, Touit batavicus* Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, Touit huetii...
. They have a stocky build and a broad tail, much like the lovebird
Lovebird
A Lovebird is one of nine species of the genus Agapornis . They are a social and affectionate small parrot. Eight species are native to the African continent, while the Grey-headed Lovebird is native to Madagascar...
s of East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
and fig parrot
Fig parrot
Fig parrots is a small tribe with two small genera of parrots of the Psittacidae family found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and tropical Australia...
s and pygmy parrot
Pygmy parrot
Pygmy parrots are the smallest members of the parrot family. There are six species of pygmy parrot; all in the genus Micropsitta, which is the only genus in the Micropsittini tribe....
s of Australasia. They are endemic to Middle
Middle America (Americas)
Middle America is a region in the mid-latitudes of the Americas. In southern North America, it usually comprises Mexico, the nations of Central America, and the West Indies. The scope of the term may vary...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
These miniature parrots in the wild travel in flocks which, depending on the species, can range from as low as four to over 100 birds. Most species travel in flocks of about 5–40. They form life-long and tight pair bonds with their chosen mates.
Parrotlets are the smallest commonly bred Parrot species in captivity. The genus Forpus, particularly the Celestial or Pacific Parrotlet
Pacific Parrotlet
The Pacific Parrotlet , also known as Lesson's Parrotlet or the Celestial Parrotlet, is a species of small parrot in the Psittacidae family, native to Ecuador and Peru...
, is growing in availability and popularity in aviculture
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
.
Forpus
The genus ForpusForpus
Forpus is a genus of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It contains the following species:* Mexican Parrotlet * Green-rumped Parrotlet * Blue-winged Parrotlet...
includes all the species of parrotlet commonly kept as pets.
- Mexican ParrotletMexican ParrotletThe Mexican Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is endemic to Mexico.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and heavily degraded former forest.-References:...
(Forpus cyanopygius) - Green-rumped ParrotletGreen-rumped ParrotletThe Green-rumped Parrotlet, Forpus passerinus, is a small parrot. It is a resident breeding bird in tropical South America, from Caribbean regions of Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad south and east to the Guianas and Brazil, on the downstream Amazon River...
(Forpus passerinus) - Blue-winged ParrotletBlue-winged ParrotletThe Blue-winged Parrotlet is a small parrot found in much of South America. It includes the Turquoise-rumped Parrotlet , which sometimes is treated as a separate species. The Blue-winged Parrotlet is mainly found in lowlands, but locally up to 1200m in south-eastern Brazil...
(Forpus xanthopterygius)- Turquoise-rumped Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius spengeli)
- Spectacled ParrotletSpectacled ParrotletThe Spectacled Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela....
(Forpus conspicillatus) - Dusky-billed ParrotletDusky-billed ParrotletThe Dusky-billed Parrotlet , also known as the Sclater's Parrotlet, is a small species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is found in the Amazon Rainforest in South America, where it is locally fairly common; it is in the Andes, and the Amazonian foothills; also the Amazon River outlet, and...
(Forpus modestus) – or Sclater's Parrotlet - Pacific ParrotletPacific ParrotletThe Pacific Parrotlet , also known as Lesson's Parrotlet or the Celestial Parrotlet, is a species of small parrot in the Psittacidae family, native to Ecuador and Peru...
(Forpus coelestis) – or Celestial Parrotlet - Yellow-faced ParrotletYellow-faced ParrotletThe Yellow-faced Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is endemic to dry woodland, riparian thickets and scrub in the Marañón Valley in northern Peru....
(Forpus xanthops)
Touit
The TouitTouit
Touit is a genus of Neotropical parrots in the Psittacidae family.It contains the following species:* Lilac-tailed Parrotlet, Touit batavicus* Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, Touit huetii...
parrotlets are a genus of parrotlets found in the Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
-Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
area, the northern Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, and Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
. Only three of the seven species have ever been brought into aviculture, none successfully.
- Lilac-tailed ParrotletLilac-tailed ParrotletThe Lilac-tailed Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is found in Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela....
, Touit batavicus - Scarlet-shouldered ParrotletScarlet-shouldered ParrotletThe Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
, Touit huetii - Red-fronted ParrotletRed-fronted ParrotletThe Red-fronted Parrotlet, Touit costaricensis, is a parrot in Central America in Costa Rica and Panama. It is 15cm, green with a short tail, red forehead, lores, and under eye, red shoulders and leading edge of underwing, and the remaining underwing coverts yellow...
, Touit costaricensis - sometimes included in T. dilectissimus - Blue-fronted ParrotletBlue-fronted ParrotletThe Blue-fronted Parrotlet, Touit dilectissimus, is also known as the Red-winged Parrotlet . It is a parrot in N. South America from E. Panama down the west coastal Andes to Peru, with a second population around and south of Lake Maracaibo...
, Touit dilectissimus – or Red-winged Parrotlet - Sapphire-rumped ParrotletSapphire-rumped ParrotletThe Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela....
, Touit purpuratus - Brown-backed ParrotletBrown-backed ParrotletThe Brown-backed Parrotlet, Touit melanonotus, also known as the Black-backed Parrotlet, the Black-eared Parrotlet, and Wied's Parrotlet, is a small green parrot found in SE Brazil from Bahia to southern Sao Paulo. It has a dark brown mantle and back, brown ear coverts, and red outer tail with...
, Touit melanonota - Golden-tailed ParrotletGolden-tailed ParrotletThe Golden-tailed Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....
, Touit surdus - Spot-winged ParrotletSpot-winged ParrotletThe Spot-winged Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....
, Touit stictopterus
Nannopsittaca
There are only two species in the genus NannopsittacaNannopsittaca
Nannopsittaca is a genus of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It contains the following species:* Tepui Parrotlet * Manu Parrotlet...
, of which only one — the Tepui Parrotlet
Tepui Parrotlet
The Tepui Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela....
, has been successfully kept in captivity.
- Tepui ParrotletTepui ParrotletThe Tepui Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela....
(Nannopsittaca panychlora) - Manu Parrotlet (Nannopsittaca dachilleae) – or Amazonian Parrotlet
Life expectancy
With a healthy diet and environment and much exercise, a parrotlet has a life expectancy of 20 to 40 years.Aviculture
The most commonly kept parrotlet in avicultureAviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
is by far the Celestial or Pacific Parrotlet
Pacific Parrotlet
The Pacific Parrotlet , also known as Lesson's Parrotlet or the Celestial Parrotlet, is a species of small parrot in the Psittacidae family, native to Ecuador and Peru...
. The Mexican Parrotlet
Mexican Parrotlet
The Mexican Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is endemic to Mexico.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and heavily degraded former forest.-References:...
, Spectacled Parrotlet
Spectacled Parrotlet
The Spectacled Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela....
, and Yellow-faced Parrotlet
Yellow-faced Parrotlet
The Yellow-faced Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.It is endemic to dry woodland, riparian thickets and scrub in the Marañón Valley in northern Peru....
are also fairly common pets. Their popularity as pets has grown due to their small size and large personalities. Parrotlets are commonly known as playful birds that enjoy chewing as much as their larger Amazon counterparts. Being highly intelligent and active parrots, parrotlets must have ample opportunities to play and exercise. Environmental enrichment must be made a part of their lives as to prevent boredom. Parrotlets keep themselves more than occupied when left alone for several hours, so long as they are provided with an array of chewable and destructible toys to play with. However, when their keepers get home, they often greet them with lovely chirps and whistles to let them know they want attention. They can mimic speech with a somewhat impressive vocabulary though their voice is very small. Males mimic better than females do. They can be very territorial inside their cages and may try to bite if a human reaches in, even to feed them. They consider the cage to be their sole territory. But the same bird, when outside his cage, can be very affectionate--flying over to land on your shoulder, eating out of your mouth, and cuddling. They do not seem to know how tiny they are, and may not be afraid of cats or dogs. Their personalities are the same as much larger parrots, so like small dogs they may try to attack other pets. On the other hand, if properly introduced they may befriend them.
Diet
- Whole cereals and whole grains: spray millet, amaranthAmaranthAmaranthus, collectively known as amaranth, is a cosmopolitan genus of herbs. Approximately 60 species are recognized, with inflorescences and foliage ranging from purple and red to gold...
, barleyBarleyBarley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
, couscousCouscousCouscous is a Berber dish of semolina traditionally served with a meat or vegetable stew spooned over it. Couscous is a staple food throughout Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.-Etymology:...
, flaxFlaxFlax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
, whole-grain pastaPastaPasta is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine, now of worldwide renown. It takes the form of unleavened dough, made in Italy, mostly of durum wheat , water and sometimes eggs. Pasta comes in a variety of different shapes that serve for both decoration and to act as a carrier for the...
s, oatOatThe common oat is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed, which is known by the same name . While oats are suitable for human consumption as oatmeal and rolled oats, one of the most common uses is as livestock feed...
, quinoaQuinoaQuinoa , a species of goosefoot , is a grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, or grain, as it is not a member of the grass family...
(truly a fruit but used as a cereal), whole-wheat, wild rice, whole rices.
- Edible flowers: carnationCarnationDianthus caryophyllus is a species of Dianthus. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years. It is the wild ancestor of the garden carnation.It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80 cm tall...
s, chamomille, chives, dandelion, daylilyDaylilyDaylily is the general nonscientific name of a species, hybrid or cultivar of the genus Hemerocallis . Daylily cultivar flowers are highly diverse in colour and form, as a result of hybridization efforts of gardening enthusiasts and professional horticulturalists...
, eucalyptusEucalyptusEucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
, fruit tree blossoms, herb blossoms, hibiscusHibiscusHibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is quite large, containing several hundred species that are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world...
, honeysuckleHoneysuckleHoneysuckles are arching shrubs or twining vines in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere. There are about 180 species of honeysuckle, 100 of which occur in China; Europe, India and North America have only about 20 native species each...
, impatiensImpatiensImpatiens is a genus of about 850–1,000 species of flowering plants, widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and tropics. Together with the puzzling Hydrocera triflora, this genus makes up the family Balsaminaceae...
, lilacLilacSyringa is a genus of about 20–25 species of flowering woody plants in the olive family , native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere....
, nasturtiumNasturtiumTropaeolum , commonly known as Nasturtium literally "nose-twister" or "nose-tweaker"), is a genus of roughly 80 species of annual and perennial herbaceous flowering plants and the only genus in the family Tropaeolaceae...
s, pansiesPansyThe Pansy is a large group of hybrid plants cultivated as garden flowers. Pansies are derived from Viola species Viola tricolor hybridized with other viola species, these hybrids are referred to as Viola × wittrockiana or less commonly Viola tricolor hortensis...
, passion flowerPassion flowerPassiflora, known also as the passion flowers or passion vines, is a genus of about 500 species of flowering plants, the namesakes of the family Passifloraceae. They are mostly vines, with some being shrubs, and a few species being herbaceous. For information about the fruit of the passiflora...
(Passiflora), roseRoseA rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
s, sunflowerSunflowerSunflower is an annual plant native to the Americas. It possesses a large inflorescence . The sunflower got its name from its huge, fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used to depict the sun. The sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads...
s, tulipTulipThe tulip is a perennial, bulbous plant with showy flowers in the genus Tulipa, which comprises 109 species and belongs to the family Liliaceae. The genus's native range extends from as far west as Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, and Iran to the Northwest of China. The tulip's centre of...
s, violets. Note that the leaves of some of these plants are poisonous to parrots.
- Greens and/or weeds:
- mainly ; bok-choiChinese cabbageChinese cabbage can refer to two distinct varieties of Chinese leaf vegetables used often in Chinese cuisine. These vegetables are both related to the Western cabbage, and are of the same species as the common turnip...
, broccoliBroccoliBroccoli is a plant in the cabbage family, whose large flower head is used as a vegetable.-General:The word broccoli, from the Italian plural of , refers to "the flowering top of a cabbage"....
and/or cauliflowerCauliflowerCauliflower is one of several vegetables in the species Brassica oleracea, in the family Brassicaceae. It is an annual plant that reproduces by seed...
leaves, cabbageCabbageCabbage is a popular cultivar of the species Brassica oleracea Linne of the Family Brassicaceae and is a leafy green vegetable...
leaves, collard greensCollard greensCollard greens are various loose-leafed cultivars of Brassica oleracea , the same species as cabbage and broccoli. The plant is grown for its large, dark-colored, edible leaves and as a garden ornamental, mainly in Brazil, Portugal, the southern United States, many parts of Africa, Montenegro,...
, dandelion leaves, kelpKelpKelps are large seaweeds belonging to the brown algae in the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera....
, mustard leaves, seaweedSeaweedSeaweed is a loose, colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae. The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae...
s, spirulinaSpirulinaSpirulina may refer to:* Spirulina , a health-food supplement* Spirulina , a cyanobacterium group* Ochthephila spirulina, species of gastropod in the Hygromiidae family...
, water cress. - occasionally amaranth leaves, beet leaves, carambolaCarambolaCarambola, also known as starfruit, is the fruit of Averrhoa carambola, a species of tree native to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The fruit is a popular food throughout Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and parts of East Asia...
(starfruit), chardChardChard , is a leafy green vegetable often used in Mediterranean cooking. While the leaves are always green, chard stalks vary in color. Chard has been bred to have highly nutrious leaves at the expense of the root...
, parsleyParsleyParsley is a species of Petroselinum in the family Apiaceae, native to the central Mediterranean region , naturalized elsewhere in Europe, and widely cultivated as an herb, a spice and a vegetable.- Description :Garden parsley is a bright green hairless biennial herbaceous plant in temperate...
, spinachSpinachSpinach is an edible flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant , which grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Spinach may survive over winter in temperate regions...
& turnipTurnipThe turnip or white turnip is a root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white, bulbous taproot. Small, tender varieties are grown for human consumption, while larger varieties are grown as feed for livestock...
leaves. All of these feature high oxalic acidOxalic acidOxalic acid is an organic compound with the formula H2C2O4. This colourless solid is a dicarboxylic acid. In terms of acid strength, it is about 3,000 times stronger than acetic acid. Oxalic acid is a reducing agent and its conjugate base, known as oxalate , is a chelating agent for metal cations...
contents that induces production of calcium oxalateCalcium oxalateCalcium oxalate is a chemical compound that forms needle-shaped crystals, known in plants as raphides. A major constituent of human kidney stones, the chemical is also found in beerstone, a scale that forms on containers used in breweries...
s (crystals/stones) by binding calcium and other trace minerals present in foods and goods with which they're ingested, possibly leading to calcium deficiencies and/or Hypocalcemia in minor cases, liver or other internal organ damage or failure in more severe cases.
- mainly ; bok-choi
- FruitFruitIn broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
(except avocadoAvocadoThe avocado is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel...
s which are toxic): all apple varieties, banana, all berry varieties, all citrus varieties, grapes, kiwi, mango, melons, nectarine, papaya, peach, all pear varieties, plum, star-fruit. Pits and seeds from every citrus and drupe species must always be discarded as they are intoxicating. However, achenes and tiny seeds from pseudo and true berries (bananas, blueberries, elderberries, eggplants, persimmons, pomegranates, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes) are all acceptable.
- Legumes: almonds, beans, lentils, peas, nuts and tofu.
- Grain and/or Legume sprouts: adzuki beans, alfalfaAlfalfaAlfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
beans, buckwheatBuckwheatBuckwheat refers to a variety of plants in the dicot family Polygonaceae: the Eurasian genus Fagopyrum, the North American genus Eriogonum, and the Northern Hemisphere genus Fallopia. Either of the latter two may be referred to as "wild buckwheat"...
, lentils, mung beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds. Caution with only lima beanLima beanPhaseolus lunatus is a legume. It is grown for its seed, which is eaten as a vegetable. It is commonly known as the lima bean or butter bean.-Origin and uses:...
and navy bean sprouts which are toxic. Red kidney beans must be thoroughly cooked, as uncooked red kidney beans are toxic.
- Vegetables (except uncooked potatoes, uncooked onions and all mushrooms): beet, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumber, all cabbage varieties, fresh beans, fresh romane lettuce, fresh peas, parsnip, all pepper varieties, all squash varieties, sweet potatoes, tomato, turnip, yams, zucchini.
- PelletsCompound feedCompound feeds are feedstuffs that are blended from various raw materials and additives. These blends are formulated according to the specific requirements of the target animal...
specifically formulated for small tropical Parrot species.
- Other fat-free, healthy and nutritious human foods.
Adding these foods provides additional nutrients and can prevent obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
and lipoma
Lipoma
A lipoma is a benign tumor composed of adipose tissue. It is the most common form of soft tissue tumor. Lipomas are soft to the touch, usually movable, and are generally painless. Many lipomas are small but can enlarge to sizes greater than six centimeters. Lipomas are commonly found in adults...
s, as can substituting millet
Millet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
, which is relatively low in fat
Fat
Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure...
, for higher-fat seed mixes. Adult parrotlets often do not always adapt readily to dietary additions, so care must be taken to introduce healthy diets as young as possible (ideally weaned onto fresh foods before introducing chicks onto seeds). Parrotlets like other Parrots learn mainly by mimicry and thus most adult parrotlets will be easily encouraged to try new foods by observing another bird eating the food, or by placing the new food on a mirror.
Parrot species (including parrotlets) are herbivores. Consequently, they should be fed vegetarian diets that are ideally supplemented with vegetal proteins. Produced by the combination of any type of whole grain/cereal with any type of legume/pulse. Eggs (hard-boiled and/or scrambled) are the only appropriately healthy source of animal proteins. Mostly for birds in either breeding, growing, moulting and/or recovering conditions. High levels of proteins (most particularly animal proteins) is unhealthy for Parrotlets and any other Parrot species living under any alternate conditions (i.e. non-breeding, pets).
External links
- Parrotlet Resources Information including Healthcare, Diet, Housing, Grooming, Tips for Bringing Home Your Parrotlet, as well as Breeding Information.