Green-rumped Parrotlet

• ExerciseHigh

  Needs hours of out-of-cage activity and mental challenges every day.

• GroomingEasy upkeep

  Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment15–20 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Respiratory issues · Obesity · Egg binding

The Green-rumped Parrotlet (Forpus passerinus) of northern South America and Trinidad is the smallest parrot kept as a companion, weighing 22 to 30 grams, roughly two-thirds of a budgerigar. It is also one of the most studied wild parrots in the world, thanks to a long-running research population in Venezuela, so its biology is unusually well documented. Everything else about it is oversized. Parrotlets are famously bold, territorial and self-assured, quite willing to threaten a much larger bird, and they should never be housed with budgies, cockatiels or other species. A hand-raised single bird bonds intensely with its owner and stays tame with daily handling; a bird left alone without interaction turns nippy and wild within weeks. Pairs bond to each other. Their great practical advantage is volume: a parrotlet chirps and chatters at a level that will not disturb a neighbour, which makes it one of the few genuinely apartment-proof parrots. Size does not reduce the care requirement. Provide a cage far larger than the bird looks like it needs, with room to fly, plus daily out-of-cage time in a bird-safe room; a bird this small is at real risk from open water, cooking, and being sat on or stepped on. Feed formulated pellets with finely chopped vegetables and greens, since all-seed diets drive obesity even at this size. Hens are prone to chronic laying, so avoid nest boxes and long daylight and supply a cuttlebone. Keep the air free of non-stick fumes, which kill small birds fastest of all.

• How much activity does a Green-rumped Parrotlet need?

  High. Needs hours of out-of-cage activity and mental challenges every day.

• How much feather care does a Green-rumped Parrotlet need?

  Easy upkeep. Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• What cage does a Green-rumped Parrotlet need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Green-rumped Parrotlet a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Green-rumped Parrotlet live?

  15–20 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Green-rumped Parrotlet?

  Keep an eye out for Respiratory issues, Obesity, Egg binding. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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