Turquoise Parrotlet: Info, Pictures, Traits, History & Care Guide

The turquoise parrotlet is a unique bird that makes a great pet and companion. Its small size makes it particularly easy to care for. Whether you’re looking for a friend to add to your home or just want to know more about this cute creature and what it does in the wild, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we break down everything that you need to know about turquoise-winged parrotlets.

Species Overview

Origin and History

While the turquoise-winged parrotlet is extremely similar to other parrotlet species, it wasn’t until 2015 that it was discovered that it is a distinct species. Studies in 2016 quickly backed up the 2015 findings, and today, these parrotlets are considered an entirely separate species.¹

If you’re looking to spot a turquoise-winged parrotlet in the wild, you’ll have to head to a small area in northern Colombia. These small parrots inhabit dry and open woodlands, savannas, palm groves, scrubland, and pastures, and if you spot them, they’ll likely be in abundance. They live in flocks of 50 or more birds, meaning finding one alone in the wild is an extremely rare occurrence.

While these parrotlets have a small natural habitat, they’re not facing any immediate threats to extinction. The IUCN has placed them at the level of “Least Concern” because the overall population is decreasing due to human interventions, but it’s not at the rate that raises any immediate concerns.²

Temperament

The turquoise-winged parrotlet has a similar temperament to many other parrotlet species, which is to say that it’s spirited and feisty but has an affectionate streak. However, like with many birds, that affection can quickly turn to aggression if it doesn’t get the attention that it needs to thrive. It has a decent amount of spunk, but this is not a bird that you want to deal with if it’s getting aggressive.

Despite their small size, these parrotlets have extremely powerful beaks that can do a bit of damage, but as long as you’re giving them enough love and attention, you shouldn’t have to worry about it because they’re not that nippy.

These traits, combined with their small size, make them great pets for first-time bird owners who don’t want to deal with temperamental and sometimes aggressive birds.

Speech & Vocalizations

The turquoise-winged parrotlet is a relatively quiet bird, though it is known to have the occasional outburst, especially if it is not getting the attention it needs. Their quiet nature makes these ideal birds to own if you live in close quarters with other people, like in an apartment.

These beautiful birds can learn a few words and phrases, but they’re not nearly as talkative as many other parrot species.

Turquoise Parrotlet Colors and Markings

Unlike many parrots that have identical-looking males and females, the turquoise-winged parrotlet has unique color patterns that distinguish the sexes.

Males have bright turquoise feathers on their lower backs near their tail feathers and have purple underwing coverts and axillaries. Females don’t have any of these extra colors and instead, have slightly brighter faces than males.

This means if you’re heading to a pet shop or a breeder, you can definitively know which sex of parrotlet you’re getting, which is a huge perk if you’re getting more than one bird.

Caring for the Turquoise Parrotlet

Like all birds, the turquoise-winged parrotlet requires a ton of work and attention to properly care for. You need to spend at least 4–5 hours with it outside of its cage every day, and it may require even more time outside of its enclosure to stay happy.

Despite your pet’s small size, you need a larger enclosure with tons of space for it to roam, and you need to rotate different toys in and out every few days to keep it entertained and exercised. The cage dimensions should be at least 18” by 18”, but you need to keep bar spacing between ½” and 5/8” so its head doesn’t get stuck between the bars.

Like with most birds, you should feed your parrotlet a pellet-based diet that you can supplement with fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Don’t overdo it with the treats, though, as your pet can get picky and refuse to eat its pellets.

You can pair the turquoise-winged parrotlet with other birds of their own species, but you need to be careful housing males and females together because of breeding risks. You shouldn’t house these parrotlets with birds of other species because they can get territorial, and this will lead to fights and other aggressive behavior.

Grooming activities with these birds are relatively minimal, though they should have enough water available to cool off in and clean themselves. If your pet doesn’t naturally bathe throughout the day, you will need to do it manually.

Like all domestic birds, you need to keep your parrotlet’s wings clipped at all times so it can’t take flight and escape. Not only would this result in you losing your bird, but it would also likely result in its death because it’s domesticated and cannot survive in the wild.

Common Health Problems

Diet and Nutrition

Like most small parrots, the turquoise-winged parrotlet thrives off of a pellet-based diet. You can supplement it with fresh fruit, vegetables, and seeds, but you need to cut these items into small chunks so your parrotlet can easily eat them.

Don’t overdo it with the seeds, though, as these can quickly turn your parrotlet into a picky eater with an unhealthy diet. Keep food available for your pet at all times, but change out fresh fruits and vegetables before they rot.

Try to keep your pet’s diet about 50% pellets, 40% fruits and vegetables, and only about 10% seeds. Finally, ensure that there is calcium-rich food because this will help with bone density and keep your bird healthy.

Furthermore, ensure that your turquoise-winged parrotlet has access to water at all times.

Exercise

While these birds don’t have the largest range in the wild, that doesn’t mean they aren’t used to flying around. The turquoise-winged parrotlet needs plenty of exercise both in and out of its cage. You need to spend at least 4–5 hours with your pet outside of its enclosure, though it will certainly appreciate more than that

Inside its enclosure, it will need multiple perches and toys to play with. This way, it can still get enough exercise.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Turquoise Parrotlet

While you might have to wait or shop around for a turquoise-winged parrotlet, you can find it just about anywhere that sells birds. This includes everyday pet stores like Petco and PetSmart and specific bird breeders.

Expect to spend anywhere from $250 to $500 on one of these birds, depending on where you find it and its specific lineage. Just keep in mind that you’re shopping for a specific species of parrotlet, so it might take time to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Conclusion

While the turquoise-winged parrotlet is an extremely adorable species, before you adopt one, ensure that you have both the time and financial resources to care for it for the next 15 to 20 years. These birds are extremely intelligent creatures and usually only bond to one human, so the last thing that you want to do is need to rehome them later.

• Also Read: Blue-Winged Parrotlet

Featured Image Credit: JTKP, Shutterstock