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Pacific Parrotlet – Forpus coelestis

Pacific Parrotlets are the most popular of the Parrotlet species kept in the U.S. today. Much of this is due to the many color varieties that have turned up all over the world. This small 12.5 cm. bird is native to South America on the Pacific side of the Andes from the Chone River region, western Ecuador, south to about Trujillo, Liberatad, north-western Peru. There they inhabit dry scrublands and secondary growth in the tropical zone feeding on grass seeds and berries in the trees. In the wild they are reported to breed from late January to late May during the rainy season.

In captivity they are known to breed year round usually laying between four and eight eggs. The hen will sit on the eggs and take care of the babies with the cock normally standing by and feeding the hen. Some cocks will take a more active role with the chicks but this seems to vary from pair to pair. There is only one known subspecies of this compact little parrot Forpus coelestis lucida discovered by Sandee Molenda and her husband in the early 90’s. This subspecies is distinguished by the females having light blue coloring on their rumps much like the males but a lighter shade.

Color varieties: Blue, Lutino, Yellow, Pastel, Isabel, Fallow, Grey Green, Dominate Pied, Recessive Pied, Opaline, Fallowblue, Yellow Head - Possible