In the wild-

Celestial Parrotlets are the world's smallest species of parrot, reaching only 5 inches in length and weighing only 30 grams. The are native to dry areas of Ecuador and Peru, most common in desert and deciduous forest. Climate change and deforestation has, however, begun to push them into more humid habitats. A wild bird will live approximately 12 years, whilst a well-cared-for captive bird could reach the age of 20.

Appearance-

Wild-type Celestial Parrotlets are dark green, however in captivity, a number of mutations are available, including blue, olive green and lutino. Despite having the appearance of a small parakeet, their temperament is very different, with some keepers saying they're like macaws in a parakeet's body! The species is sexually dimorphic, with males developing a blue streak above each eye between 5 and 7 months.

In captivity-

Setup and decor-

Whilst Parrotlets are the smallest of all parrot species, they still require a large amount of space and regular exercise in a safe room out the cage. A 24 inch cube cage is the minimum I would recommend for these active birds, but the bigger the better. The cage should have no more than 1/2 inch bar spacing, which prevents birds escaping and prevents them from getting their heads stuck. If you are keeping multiple birds together, make sure you account for this when buying a cage, and add more space for each. That being said, keeping parrotlets singularly or in pairs is best, as in a small captive environment more than one of the same gender will almost certainly lead to issues, unless they are housed separately. Stainless steel bowls are best for food and water as they are easiest to clean and a chewing bird won't be able to munch on it! They are also proven to harbour less bacteria.

In regards to enrichment, I like to give plenty of perch types and sizes, including pedi-perches, platform perches and safe natural wood, as well as providing a variety of good quality, safe bird toys. Rope boings, natural chew toys are some of my personal favourites. Once you start to know your bird and their preferences better as you spend more time with them, you can tailor toy buying around their needs, and even set up a monthly custom subscription box. You can also provide a bath, but your bird may prefer to be sprayed with a light misting bottle, or just using the water bowl! Another thing you may wish to purchase is a play stand for when your bird is out of the cage.

Feeding-

Firstly, it is important to make sure your birds have access to food and fresh water at all times. Water is especially vital as all bird species can die from dehydration in a matter of hours; keep it topped up and refresh it each day. Parrotlets need a healthy and balanced diet comprising of mostly fresh foods and seeds. The seed portion of the diet should consist of a simple seed mix for budgies. Try to pick a mix with a small amount of sunflower seeds as these are high in fat, leading to potential health issues. Millet sprays, nuts and other treats can also be given to supplement their diet. The feeding of pellets- often recommended with pet birds- is frequently debated between Parrotlet owners. There is some evidence to suggest that mutations of Parrotlets are at risk of renal failure and therefore premature death, whilst other owners document long, healthy lives as a result of a pellet based diet. Providing pellets will give your birds greater variation in their diet and will also help to ensure all of their nutritional needs are met. If you decide to feed pellets, choose a small size to ensure your birds find them easy to eat, and feed in moderation rather than as the bulk of the diet. 

Finally, your bird will need fresh foods such as fruit, vegetables and sprouts. This can be in the form of chop (see the how-to under blogs) or freshly cut each day. Sprouts are simply seeds that have been allowed to germinate and are loved by many birds. Make sure that you are only using safe foods when feeding your bird, as some can be fatal; such as mushrooms, chocolate and avocado.

Do they make good pets?

Celestial Parrotlets often make brilliant pets, however like any animal they have some drawbacks.

• Parrotlets are small and active birds, so are great to interact with and watch, whilst not taking up too much space
• They are highly intelligent, able to understand training, learn tricks and even talk
• They're a big bird in a little package. This is both a positive and a negative dependent on what you are looking for in a bird
• They are still parrots, they are LOUD!
• Some owners say they are one-person birds, so will prefer a single member of the family, and could be aggressive towards others
• They have a string bite despite their size, so may not be ideal pets for families/homes with young children 

To summarise, Parrotlets do make an amazing pet species, but it is vitally important that before getting one you realise that they are still a parrot and have specialist requirements. Moreover, I am of the opinion that if you intend to buy a pet because they're 'cool' (eg. they can talk and do tricks) you shouldn't get any pet, especially complex exotics like Parrotlets.

Buying Celestial Parrotlets-

As with all birds, only buy from reputable breeders. Ideally, you could find a rehome or rescue parrot that is in need of a home. It is rewarding knowing that you have given a bird a home it can have forever. These beautiful birds are reasonably common, and breeders are often easy to find. Likewise, they are also frequently available through parrot rescues. Never buy birds online, more often than not these are scams. Scams are very easy to spot as they have stupidly cheap prices, and often have images and text stolen from other sites. Additionally, any website selling fertile parrot eggs is a scam as it is not legal in many countries. Don't be fooled.

Important notes-

-All pet birds should have time out of the cage daily. Parrotlets require at least an hour, but there is no limit on how long they can stay out. If you can, why not let your bird out (supervised of course) all day!?

-Wing clipping is a very controversial subject and I believe it is wrong. Unless you have valid reason to do this, please don't clip your birds wings. It's like chopping off a human's legs for no reason. It isn't fair on a creature that is meant to fly to stop them from doing so. There are many articles on why you shouldn't clip your birds wings, please do read them.

-Register with an avian vet! Most normal vets don't know what they are doing when it comes to birds and exotics, so find a vet that knows how to deal with your species before even considering buying one. It also is a good idea to keep some money to one side just in case of an emergency, or alternatively to insure your pet.

-Bird grit is not necessary and can do more harm than good, please don't feed it. Likewise, providing cuttlebone and vitamin blocks is not required when the correct diet is fed.

Thank you for reading my Celestial Parrotlet care sheet and I hope you found it helpful and informative. Good luck with your new bird!