Brotogeris

Some Advantages

• Intelligent
• Comical
• Outgoing
• Small size
• Some speaking ability

Some Challenges

• Can be nippy
• Can be moody
• Can be quite loud and shrill

Size
7 to 9 inches

Weight
50 to 75 grams

Colors
Primarily green, with yellow, blue, gray or orange accents

Life Expectancy
Genetics and diet play a strong role in the lifespan of a bird. Brotogeris can live 20 years or more.

Brotogeris breeders and owners tend to describe this genus much like they would a long-time spouse: loving, smart and funny, but also strong-willed, opinionated and stubborn. Throw in bold and fearless, and you’ve got yourself the typical Brotogeris parakeet. Of course, every bird is unique, as is each of the eight Brotogeris species.

History and Origin: 
The eight Brotogeris species are native to Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Mexico, Peru, Surinam, and Venezuela, with the ranges varying by species. Two of these species are commonly bred in captivity and available as pets in the United States, while many of the others are bred just in small numbers.

General Information:
The grey-cheeked parakeet is probably the best known Brotogeris, because tens of thousands of them were brought into the United States from Central and South America in the 1980s. But, they proved difficult to breed and their numbers have dwindled dramatically. Grey cheeks are considered the boldest of the bunch: They love to play and they play hard. Grey cheeks can also be moody, snuggling sweetly with their owners one minute and then nipping the next, and for no apparent reason. They crave the attention of their humans and can be very dedicated, social pets.

The canary wing has been gaining in popularity quickly, both for its social personality and its ready availability. Where a grey-cheek may be impulsive and adventurous, a canary wing is thoughtful and deliberate. Canary wings are extremely playful and need lots of toys.

Then there’s the plain parakeet. So plain, one might say, that they are not available in American aviculture, and are being bred by just a few Canadian breeders. Also extremely rare in the U.S. pet trade is the tui parakeet.

The cobalt-winged parakeet and golden-winged parakeet are nearly as uncommon, but are both being bred in small numbers in the United States. Golden wings are extremely intelligent. Before entering into a social situation, like sharing a cage or food, they mingle with other birds and pay close attention to the other birds’ body language. They can be nippy—not to be mean but simply as a means of using their beaks to explore.

Orange-chinned and white-winged parakeets are increasing in numbers in captivity, but not quickly. The personality of the orange chin is a cross between the grey cheek and the canary wing, and they are the most independent of the bunch. Hand-raised orange chins make excellent pets, but few are available. White wings are known for being shy and quiet, and more sensitive to their environments.

Many parrots of the Brotogeris genus have been called “pocket parrots” in the past. Below are the more specific common names for each of the species.

Brotogeris pyrrhopterus: grey-cheeked parakeet
Brotogeris versicolurus: white-winged parakeet. At one time, versicolurus also
included the canary-wing (below) as a subspecies.
Brotogeris chiriri: canary-winged parakeet, aka yellow-chevroned parakeet.
Both white-winged and canary-winged parakeets are sometimes known as bee bee parakeets or bee bee parrots.
Brotogeris jugularis: orange-chinned parakeet, aka tovi parakeet
Brotogeris cyanoptera: cobalt-winged parakeet
Brotogeris chrysopterus: golden-winged parakeet
Brotogeris sanctithomae: tui parakeet
Brotogeris tirica: plain parakeet

Though the cage need not be huge, it should allow room for a variety of branches and perching surfaces, multiple food dishes, a bowl for bathing and lots of toys. Toys should be colorful, made from acrylic or from wood colored with bird-safe dyes. They love foot toys, as well as large hanging toys that they can climb on. They also need plenty of wood items to chew.

Speaking ability varies widely from bird to bird. Some Brotogeris may not say more than a few words in their lifetimes, but then you have owners of canary-winged parakeets who brag that their birds have very large vocabularies that they even use in context. Some grey cheeks may also be good talkers and noise mimickers.

Beyond speaking ability, vocalizations can range from almost inaudible noises to “eeks” that can be quite loud. Canary wings in particular can do a “machine gun” noise. Their volume can get intense, but they can also moderate their vocalizations to whistles, muttering, grunts, sharp “eeks,” and words.

Health:
Brotogeris need some pellets, but not in the larger quantities recommended for other parrots. Ask your avian veterinarian for a recommended amount based on your particular bird’s health, weight, and species. Also offer fresh foods like chopped fruits and vegetables, scrambled eggs, cooked pasta, cooked beans and grains, sprouted seeds, and chopped dark leafy greens. They should be fed lots of yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables, and other high vitamin A-content foods. Vitamin A deficiency appears to be more common in Brotogeris than in other commonly kept parrots.

The Ideal Owner:
Every Brotogeris has the potential to be a snuggly pet if it is hand-raised and handled regularly by its owner. But, even the most friendly pet has times it doesn’t want to be handled—or, it may want to be handled briefly and then go about playing, eating, and exploring. Some may like to be petted, whereas others prefer to snuggle up under a chin or in a shirt sleeve but not be handled. The ideal Brotogeris owner understands that these birds are all unique in their requirements for attention, that ongoing handling is required to keep them tame, and that sometimes their bird may want to be left alone.