Chapter 20 - PARROT LETS

Parrotlets are really miniatures of the large Amazon Par­rots. They are not quite as small as the Pigmy Parrots of the South Pacific Islands but are from about 4 to 5% inches in length which makes them quite small. They are slow-moving except when flying as they are swift on the wing in undulating flight. Parrotlets are bright green, some having bright shades of blue on the wings, under wing-coverts and the rump, in cocks only. Hens are plain bright green having mostly yellow foreheads. Thus the sexes are easy to dis­tinguish.

They may be kept with the smallest Finches providing the flight cage is roomy. One pair may be kept in an ordinary Canary Cage. These little birds are never noisy or objection­able, their common call being a pleasant "Peet Peet" repeated in staccato fashion when feeling happy and exuberant. When handled against their will, they utter a rasping sound.

A remarkable trait is their extreme attachment to one an­other whether in pairs, or even two cocks kept together which were observed to copulate. If separated in the same room, they will call their "Peet Peet" back and forth continually till united. These little birds like to stay in one place for long periods of time, especially if kept in a small cage by them­selves. If one is handled often enough, it will eventually become finger tame, though never a talker. They are similar in appearance to African Love Birds, having very short tails, with the central two tail feathers the longest.

The range of Parrotlets is from Mexico through Central and Northern So. America to Brazil and Bolivia. The distri­bution of blue on the wings and rump separates the species.

FEEDING AND CARE

The main diet for Parrotlets is the standard Parrakeet Mixture, with a teaspoonful of Cod Liver Oil mixed in one pint of seed. It is difficult to induce these birds to eat greens, although some do eat Dandelion, but they will greatly relish fresh corn on the cob or a piece of sweet apple. If they do not take to these other foods at first, just remove all seed for half a day.

Parrotlets, in common with other Psittacine Birds, do like something to chew on, and should be provided with sections of bark or pieces of soft wood. There is some indication that they like raw hamburger, as they have been known to eat the heads of birds that died of natural causes in their aviaries.

In winter, when fresh corn is not available, they can be given cracked dry corn in a separate dish with their Parrakeet Mixture. Some Parrotlets may eat the smaller Sunflower seeds, and this should be encouraged by at first removing other seeds, and giving just Sunflower in a separate dish. It must be mentioned that this seed is new to them, as im­ported birds are only fed cracked corn, or dry corn on the cob, sometimes unhulled paddy rice.

Parrotlets will not bathe, and prefer to roll in wet grass, lettuce or cabbage leaves. It is here suggested to spray them every week or two with tepid water or to give them a quick dip in lukewarm water. Place them in direct sun afterwards to dry out and preen. This will bring out the bright green of their plumage.

BREEDING

Parrotlets lay up to 6 eggs in a clutch, and two nests per season. A Shell Parrakeet nest box with concave wood block at bottom is most suitable as they do not build nests. A very thin sprinkling of peatmoss may be placed in the concave to lessen any danger of egg breakage. The young are fed re­gurgitated seed, and the parents should also be provided with fresh corn on cob if available, and if they will take it, whole wheat bread and greens. Ground oystershell should have been provided two months prior to breeding. Newly paired Parrotlets will be encouraged to breed if other Parrotlets are in adjoining breeding compartments or even Shell Parra-keets. The breeding pair should be given strict solitude ex­cept when feeding and watering.

An amusing characteristic of Spengel's Blue-Wing es­pecially is a rattling sound of irritation uttered by the cocks against the more active members of their aviary in disapprov­al of any clumsiness displayed in flight.

Parrotlets are similar in appearance to African Love Birds, although much smaller. They have very short tails, with the two central tail feathers a little longer than the others. A few species are here described:

GREEN-RUMPED PARROTLETS (Forpus guinanensis) Habitat: Guianas and Eastern Brazil. This is the smallest species, being little over 4 inches. Their body is bright green including the rump. The cocks have light blue on the wings, with royal blue on the under wing-coverts. The hen has a yellow forehead. She resembles the hens of the Blue-Wing species, but is much smaller, and both sexes have a slight bulging of the forehead to aid in identification from other species. Green-Rumps are stockier birds, and the head appears a little large for the body.

PASSERINE PARROTLETS (Forpus passerinus viridiss-imus) Habitat: Venezuela. Bright green with only a trace of blue on the cock's rump.

SPENGEL'S BLUE-WING PARROTLETS (Forpus spen-geli) Habitat: Colombia. This variety has a beautiful tur­quoise-blue rump, with light blue on the wings, and royal blue on the under wing-coverts in the cock. Body is bright green. The hen is lighter green, without any trace of blue, and has a yellow forehead. Length 5 inches. This variety is the prettiest.

BLUE-WING PARROTLETS (Forpus p. vividus). Habi­tat: Mexico southwards. This is the commonest variety, and here the rump is ultramarine blue, the hen having a yellow forehead, and lacking blue feathers. Both are bright green, the hen having a yellow forehead.

Another very pretty variety is the Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus c. conspicillatus)  Habitat: Panama to Colombia.

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