Adult Pacific Length: 4.3 to 5.5 inches

Adult Pacific Weight: 1.13 to 1.2 ounces

Immature Pacific Parrotlet Weight: 1.6 ounces (when they leave the nest)

Life Span: There is not enough data to be sure of their average life span, but so far it appears to be between 20 to 30 years of age.

Health: If a parrotlet is kept in a safe and clean environment, is well fed and watered, has no stress, and is given lots of toys, they are less likely to develop any diseases. They are sturdy and resilient and have adapted quite well to being shipped around the world as well as to various bird shows.

Many breeders house their birds outside with little or no problem, but if you live in a particularly cold and/or wet climate it is best to keep them indoors.

Parrotlets were only introduced into the US as pets in the early to mid 1980s. In recent years, because of their quite voices, easy adaptability, and heart warming antics, they have become quite popular.

These smart little birds can learn all sorts of tricks and are easily trained. Many even learn to talk, but the owner has to be persistent and consistent. Some parrotlets develop vocabularies as high as a hundred words or so.

There is some belief that women and children make better voice trainers for the parrotlet because their voices tend to be higher, which is easier for the birds to imitate. Quiet sessions with one on one interaction between the owner and the bird will render great results, whether it is for trick training or talk training.

Bonding: Baby parrotlets are most receptive to bonding between six and nine weeks of age. The atmosphere they are raised in should be loving and nurturing. Careful training from the beginning will ensure that you have a healthy, happy, and friendly adult bird. Since parrotlets are closely related to Amazon Parrots, they should be cared for and trained the same way as the Amazons are.

Interaction: Parrotlets are very curious, sweet, playful, and lovable. They like to be petted and scratched all over their bodies. They have a nickname: The Pocket Parrot, because they fit into people's shirt pockets and enjoy riding about that way or to be perched up on your shoulder.

Toys: Parrotlets love to keep moving for hours at a time all the while chewing on their toys and swinging on their perches. Since their jaws are small they do not quickly destroy their toys as their bigger cousins the Amazon Parrot does. They love to swing, chew and play with more than one toy at a time. So, it is best to have multiple toys in their cages to keep them entertained.

Parrotlets reach sexual maturation at about 12-14 months of age. Once bred,the Pacific Parrotlet hens lay about 3-6 eggs and (rarely) as many as 8. The Green-rumps are known for producing larger broods. The brooding period is approximately 18-21 days and the young are ready to fly out at the age of four to five weeks of age.

Pacific Males: Pacific Parrotlet males are easy to tell from females. All male Pacifics have blue around the eye, a blue streak on the wings, and blue rump feathers. The females are all green. When Parrotlets are 20 days old, and have featherd out, sexing can be determined.

They do bathe in either water, wet grasses or other vegetation, such as lettuce leaves.

They will preen and clean each other and a mating pair tends to be quite attentive to each other.

Habitat:

Pacific Parrotlets: They range from mostly northeastern Mexico down to Northern Argentina. Their preference is to live in open grasslands and lightly wooded areas, perching in trees and shrubs.

They prefer small family groups up to ten birds, but on average five or so members. They gather in large flocks consisting of groups of families when the wet season ends and the dry season begins.

Diet:

They eat mostly seeds and grains, but also bugs.

Predators: