Parrotlet
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| Parrotlet | |
|---|---|
| A pet male Pacific parrotlet (Forpus coelestis) | |
| A pet male Pacific parrotlet (Forpus coelestis) | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittacidae |
| Subfamily: | Arinae |
| Tribe: | Arini |
| Groups included | |
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] They resemble the lovebirds of Africa in size, body shape and behaviour and have sometimes been referred to as "South American lovebirds", but are not closely related.[2]
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.[citation needed ]
Behavior
[edit ]If left alone for too long, a single parrotlet can lose some of its companionability.[citation needed ] The Pacific parrotlet, in particular, does not understand that it is a tiny bird, and has little trouble challenging other animals and humans.[3] Parrotlets in general are feisty, affectionate, and willful. Parrotlets should be housed separately due to their aggressive nature.[citation needed ] Even bonded pairs have been known to kill or injure a mate.[citation needed ] For this reason, most parrotlet species should not be kept in aviaries[citation needed ] and it is best to keep them separate from other species.[citation needed ]
Parrotlet species
[edit ]The following species within three genera are considered to be parrotlets:
Forpus
[edit ]- Mexican parrotlet (Forpus cyanopygius)
- Green-rumped parrotlet (Forpus passerinus)
- Cobalt-rumped parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius)
- Turquoise-winged parrotlet (Forpus spengeli)
- Riparian parrotlet (Forpus crassirostris)
- 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
[edit ]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 melanonotus)
- Golden-tailed parrotlet (Touit surdus)
- Spot-winged parrotlet (Touit stictopterus)
Nannopsittaca
[edit ]There are only two species in the genus Nannopsittaca .
- Tepui parrotlet (Nannopsittaca panychlora)
- Manu parrotlet or Amazonian parrotlet (Nannopsittaca dachilleae)
References
[edit ]- ^ Forshaw, Joseph (2006). Parrots of the World . Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. p. 123. ISBN 0-691-09251-6.
- ^ Grindol, Diane (20 February 2014). "Lovebird or Parrotlet?". Lafeber. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ "They May be Small, but Parrotlets Have a Big Bird Personality".
