Parrotlet or budgerigar: which small bird for a quiet apartment?
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
The parrotlet (genus Forpus) wins people over with its tiny size — barely 12 cm — and a stockier, more parrot-like build than a budgerigar. A study by Ralph Wanker and colleagues, published in 1998 in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, showed that the spectacled parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus) individually recognises its various social companions through distinct contact calls, a fine-grained vocal recognition ability that is rare in a bird this small (see the study). That intensity of social bonding has a direct consequence for buyers: a pair of parrotlets often becomes self-sufficient and can stay aloof from humans, whereas a single budgerigar turns to its owner more readily.
Contents · 4 sections
Temperament: quiet in volume, not in character
The parrotlet vocalises more softly than a budgerigar, which often wins it points for apartment living. Its character, though, is reputed to be more assertive: territorial, sometimes prone to biting other birds or even its owner if not handled regularly from a young age. The budgerigar generally stays more docile and simpler as a first bird, as covered in our comparison budgerigar or cockatiel for beginners.
Budget and availability
The parrotlet is scarcer in general pet shops and mostly found through specialist breeders, typically priced between €60 and €120 depending on the colour mutation — noticeably more than a standard budgerigar, usually €15 to €30. Monthly upkeep (food, toys) is comparable between the two species.
Alone or in pairs: a structural difference
A lone parrotlet, without enough stimulation, gets bored and can become anxious or aggressive; keeping a pair is generally recommended if daily handling time is limited. A budgerigar copes better with relative solitude as long as its owner compensates with regular interaction — the bird accessories section and the bird hub detail the equipment needed for both.
Frequently asked questions
Can a parrotlet learn to talk?
It can mimic a few sounds, but far less than large parrots; that's not a meaningful factor against the budgerigar, which a male can sometimes surprise you with a fair vocabulary.
Is a parrotlet suitable for a household with children?
Less so than a budgerigar: its livelier character and tendency to bite make it better suited to an experienced adult or children already used to birds.
Can parrotlets and budgerigars share the same cage?
No, this isn't advisable: the size difference and the parrotlet's territorial streak put the budgerigar at risk of injury.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Parrot outdoor harness with elastic lead (€25.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Birds universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
