Parrotlets are small, predominantly green birds from Latin America. These spunky little birds have large personalities and are well suited to living in small spaces, such as apartments or mobile homes.

Parrotlets are bold little birds. They enjoy human companionship and are very active. If allowed out of their cage, the birds will play busily on a play gym. Because parrotlets are so bold, they need close supervision when they are out of their cages to ensure their safety.

They can be prone to feather picking. They can be housed in medium-sized cages and should be fed a good-quality seed mix-ture supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Pekin Robins

Pekin robins, also called Chinese nightingales, are softbills who are often kept in aviaries or community flights. They are found in the wild in several countries in Asia, and they were introduced to Hawaii, where they can now be found in the wild.

Pekin robins are rather drab in their plumage, but they sing beautiful songs. The male’s song has been described as lilting, strong, and sweet. They are active, inquisitive birds who should be kept in pairs because they practice contact sitting and roost close to one another.

In captivity, the pekin robin’s diet should include commercial softbill diets—greens and live food, such as mealworms, aphids, and white worms. You can also offer apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, and blueberries. These birds should be housed in large cages or put into community flights with finches. (Source: Julia Rach Mancini: Why Does My Birds Do That?)