How to Buy a Parrotlet in the United States | PetzLover

Which parrotlet species can you buy in the US?

Parrotlets belong to the genus Forpus and come from Mexico, Central and South America. Dr. Laurie Hess, a board-certified avian vet writing for PetMD, names the Pacific parrotlet as the most popular pet species and the green-rumped as the other commonly kept one. The World Parrot Trust describes the spectacled parrotlet as common in some European countries but rare elsewhere.

Pacific parrotlets are also bred in color mutations such as blue, darker green, yellow and white, according to PetMD. Ask how a mutation bird was sexed: by its markings or by a DNA test.

Is a parrotlet the right pet bird for you?

Dr. Hess describes parrotlets as strong-willed and territorial around their cages, and warns that birds not handled often enough can become nippy, moody and aggressive. They can learn a few words but are not big talkers. The Merck Veterinary Manual calls them quiet compared with other parrots and relatively easy to tame when young.

• Good fit: an adult who will handle the bird every day and wants a bold little parrot that suits an apartment.
• Think twice: homes with cats, dogs or young children. PetMD says the main risks to parrotlets are injuries: being stepped on, caught in tight spaces or grabbed by curious cats and dogs.
• Lifespan: PetMD gives an average of 8 to 12 years, with reports into the 20s; Merck says up to 20 years.
• Vet care: PetMD recommends an exam after purchase and every year after that.

Should you buy one parrotlet or a pair?

This is the biggest decision. A single parrotlet that is handled daily usually bonds closely with its owner. PetMD notes that pairs housed together are more likely to bond to each other than to people, but that for owners with limited time, two may be the best choice.

• Never mix species. PetMD advises that parrotlets should not be housed with other bird species, and care guides warn they will pick fights with much larger birds. A parrotlet and a budgie or cockatiel should not share a cage.
• Pairs need room and watching. Parrotlets can be territorial with their own kind, so introduce birds slowly in a cage neither has claimed.
• A male and female will breed, and breeding pairs can turn aggressive. Buy a mixed pair only if you are ready for eggs.

Where can you find parrotlets for sale?

Look for a breeder who lets you visit, shows you where the chicks are raised and keeps each one until it eats on its own. Parrot rescues place parrotlets too: Phoenix Landing, which serves Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida, lists a $100 adoption fee for parrotlets. On PetzLover you can browse parrotlets for sale, filter by location, save a search for alerts and message the seller before arranging a visit.

All parrotlets are on CITES Appendix II, which controls international trade, and the federal Wild Bird Conservation Act limits imports of CITES-listed birds. A parrotlet for sale in the US should therefore be captive-bred, ideally with a closed leg band that could only be fitted when it was a chick. State and local rules on keeping birds vary, so check if you are unsure.

What should you ask a parrotlet breeder before you pay?

1. Which species is it, and when did it hatch?
2. Is it fully weaned and eating on its own?
3. Was it hand-fed, and how often is it handled now?
4. What is on its closed leg band?
5. Is it male or female, and how was that decided?
6. What does it eat? Pellets and fresh vegetables with some seed is a sound answer; seed only is not.
7. Which avian vet has seen it, and were any tests done, for example for psittacosis?
8. Can I see the parents and where it was raised, and is there a written health guarantee?

Write the hatch date, band number, sex and price on a bill of sale. How to sell parrotlets shows what a careful seller should have ready.

How much does a parrotlet cost?

The Vet Desk, a pet cost site, put parrotlet prices in January 2026 at about $100 to $300 or more from a breeder and $50 to $300 to adopt. Its other figures:

• Setup: about $130 to $360 for a cage, perches, toys, food and a travel cage.
• Yearly care: about $300 to $675 or more, including food at about $200 to $300 a year and check-ups.
• Emergencies: it allows up to $300 or more a year.

A parrotlet priced far below these ranges, or a free one that only needs shipping paid, is more likely a scam than a bargain.

How do you bring a parrotlet home safely?

1. Collect the bird yourself in a small, secure carrier. The BBB warns that bird scams often start with a seller who will only ship and then adds fees.
2. Pay only after you have seen the bird, never by wire transfer or gift card.
3. Keep it in a separate room from other birds until an avian vet has examined it.
4. Wash your hands after cleaning the cage; the CDC notes birds can carry psittacosis without looking sick.
5. Before out-of-cage time, close doors and windows and keep cats and dogs out.
6. Photograph the bird and record its band number in case it ever escapes.

A bird this small slips out of an open door in a second. Read what to do when your parrotlet is lost now; how to help find a lost parrotlet explains what neighbors should do if they spot one.