Parrotlet
| Parrotlet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A pet male Pacific parrotlet (Forpus coelestis) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittacidae |
| Tribe: | Arini |
| Genera | |
Parrotlets are a group of the smallest New World parrot species, comprising several genera, namely Forpus, Nannopsittaca, and Touit. They have stocky builds and short tails and are endemic to Middle and South America.[1]
In the wild, parrotlets travel in flocks ranging in size from about four to over a hundred birds. Most species travel in flocks of about five to forty. They form lifelong, tight pair bonds with their chosen mates.
Parrotlets are the smallest parrot species commonly bred in captivity. The genus Forpus, particularly the celestial or Pacific parrotlet, is growing in availability and popularity in aviculture.
Parrotlet species
The following species within three genera are considered to be parrotlets:
Forpus
The genus Forpus includes all the species of parrotlet commonly kept as pets.
- Mexican parrotlet (Forpus cyanopygius)
- Green-rumped parrotlet (Forpus passerinus)
- Blue-winged parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius)
- Turquoise-rumped parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius spengeli)
- Spectacled parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus)
- Dusky-billed parrotlet or Sclater's parrotlet (Forpus modestus)
- Pacific parrotlet or celestial parrotlet (Forpus coelestis)
- Yellow-faced parrotlet (Forpus xanthops)
Touit
The Touit 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.
- Lilac-tailed parrotlet (Touit batavicus)
- Scarlet-shouldered parrotlet (Touit huetii)
- Red-fronted parrotlet (Touit costaricensis - sometimes included in T. dilectissimus)
- Blue-fronted parrotlet or red-winged parrotlet (Touit dilectissimus)
- Sapphire-rumped parrotlet (Touit purpuratus)
- Brown-backed parrotlet (Touit melanonota)
- Golden-tailed parrotlet (Touit surdus)
- Spot-winged parrotlet (Touit stictopterus)
Nannopsittaca
There are only two species in the genus Nannopsittaca.
- Tepui parrotlet (Nannopsittaca panychlora)
- Manu parrotlet or Amazonian parrotlet (Nannopsittaca dachilleae)