Parrotlet species

Parrotlet color mutations

There are several color mutations that are readily available currently.

The blue, yellow and fallow have been obtainable for quite a few years. The lutino and albino are more recent developments.

Without dwelling extensively into genetics, there are a few interesting aspects in pairing different combinations of color mutations.

Lutino and blue produce normal visual-green progenies, which, genetically, are split for blue and lutino, i.e. they carry the lutino and blue genes but in a single form so each is not expressed to endow the visual color in the bird’s feathers.

These parrots are called double-split. Pairing such double-split birds produces babies of the three color mutations, lutino, blue and albino, in addition to the normal green (green only visually but genetically one bird could be different from its other siblings).

The albino is an interesting mutation. It contains the lutino and blue genes in a homozygous form i.e. both genes are present in pairs and therefore express their visual colors. However, somehow the blue and lutino colors "wash" each other out and a pure white bird with red eyes is produced.

The white mutation (similar to albino except it has black eyes instead of red) is similarly produced but a yellow mutation bird is used instead of the lutino. The albino and white mutations are spectacular looking birds but their most desired value is their potential in developing new color mutations.

Pacific Parrotlets

Here´s a little overall knowledge on the Pacific or Celestial Parrotlet. This is the most common an available parrotlet all over the world closely followed by the Green Rumped Parrotlet.

Less than six inches the seven species of parrotlets are the smallest parrots available for pets.

The Male have a dull olive like color on the back and a more clear normal green color on the stomache. The rump, lower back and wings are covered with cobalt blue. A little blue line goes from eyes to neck.

The Female is more brightly colored and can have a slightly blue rump and sometimes also a slightly blue line at the eyes. Beak and feet are pinkish horn colored.

Immature birds are similar to adult birds, already in the nest, it is possible to tell male from female birds, this makes it easy to be sure that you have a pair. This specie of parrotlet is bred in several beautiful color mutations.

In the Wild the pacific parrotlet lives in Ecuador and Peru. They behave almost as the house sparrows. If they can find one, their favorite nesting place is in a cactus or an old tree. Usually they lay four to seven eggs; they lay on them for 21 days. When they hatch they stay in the nest for about five weeks, at this time all the birds are the same size, because the first hatched don’t grow as fast as the last, this way they all have the same chance of survival.

A hand-feed Parrotlet can be a wonderful, devoted little pet. They can even learn to say a couple of words, the most known is about 70 words. Most of the parrotlets are filled with energy, so of course it would be a good idea to give them some toys, a hamster wheel is known to be a most delightful toy.

Pacifics are often known to be more feisty than most other parrotlets, and often strut fearlessly around, not being afraid to bite what ever gets in the way. But they can also be wery moody little birds, who can get jealous and most territorial. But most of the time they seem to be non-agressive birds, who just like to be on its owners shoulder.

Yellow-Faced Parrotlet (forpus Xanthops)

Lenght:6 inch. The Male has a yellow face, wich slowly turns light green over the chest. Front and back are the same green color as on all the other Parrotlets, the rump is deep cobalt blue. Caracteristic for both sexes are the brown spot on the beak of, also its greater size than the other species of parrotlets.

The Female is a little more pale in the face, and is also missing the blue rump. Some say that this is the rarest specie of Parrotlet, perhaps thei are so in the US. but not here in Denmark, here the Mexican Parrotlet is the most unusual.

Green-Rumped Parrotlet (forpus passerinus)

Lenght:5½ inch. The Male is mainly green all over its body, except for the under wings. The Female is mostly green, but some females have a slightly blue plumage on the under wings.
 
The Green-Rumps are the second most common Parrotlet in the world, and is also wery common seen kept as a pet.

Blue-Winged Parrotlet (forpus xanthopterygius)

Lenght: 5½ inch. The Males lower back, rump and the under wing are as the name says, blue. The rest of the body is mainly green with a brighter ring around the eyes. The Female is missing the blue colors instead they have a yellowish green color.

Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus Conspicillatus)

Length:5  inch. The Male has a bright blue ring around the eyes (looks as if it is wearing glases), the body has a more dark grayish green color than other parrotlets. As with all other parrotlet males that under wings are blue. The Female is more the usual parrotlet female color. This tiny, little parrot is the smallest and most beautiful parrotlet.