Enjoy Small Hookbills
© Mary Wilson
LittleHawk, my parrotlet, races across his cage to greet me. He jumps on my finger, then darts up my shoulder. This pint sized creature warbles happily into my ear. I sit down to type, and he contents himself with preening while I work.
Parrotlets are just one species classified as a small hookbill. All parrots are members of the Psittacidae family and are called hookbills due to their curved beaks. Small hookbills are the smaller-sized members of this family, but that doesn't mean they aren't big of heart. After all, good things come in small packages.
Several species make up the group of "small hookbills." Each species comes with its own characteristics that make it completely different from other species in this same group. Usually, a small hookbill is a bird smaller than a cocatiel, which means that parakeets, or budgerigars, lovebirds, and parrotlets are the most common species. Let's take a look at them in more detail.
Just about every pet store has a parakeet or two. These delightful birds are the least expensive of the three species mentioned, with pet store birds running for $15-$20. Prices increase for some of the rarer colors, or if you want your bird to be handfed. You may want to look around, as parakeets come in a wide variety of colors. Handfeeding means that the breeder took over the responsibility of caring for the chick, and in doing so, making it more tractable to people. Because the breeder fed the baby bird, it sees humans as a source of food, and as such, friends.
You may also hear the term budgerigar used when discussing parakeets. Budgerigars are most likely show birds. Called "English Parakeets," they are larger and more expensive than our American Parakeets. Both make good pets. Their only major difference is the fact that English Parakeets are considered "show quality" and may outperform an American parakeet in the show ring.
Parakeets are spunky little birds. Their small size (approximately 8 inches long including the tail) make them ideal for apartments. A happy parakeet chirps and warbles to its owner, its toys, or for no apparent reason. You'll enjoy watching the antics of a parakeet, and they are good "starter" birds for children. Parakeets live for 8 years, though some may be as old as 20.
It is said that male parakeets make better pets, as females can become nippy due to
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