Parrotlet Handbook [Paperback]

I love this book, and I think my parrotlet does too after I changed some things around for him because of this book

This is the only Parrotlet reference book that should even be considered an actual Parrotlet book of the two that are professionally published. 'The Parrotlet Handbook' published in 2009 was written by the founder of the American-based International Parrotlet Society (IPS) --- Sandee L. Molenda. She has been the driving force in promoting the "Pet Parrotlet" in the United States. In fact the reason we even have any colour mutations in the US is due to the author of this book.

Sadly, she has lately spoken out against choosing to have the bird club she founded --- The IPS --- import colour mutations from Europe because the other Parrotlets beside the Pacific Parrotlet have become Rare since this book was published. No longer can a person find a breeder of sweet, hand-fed, close-banded Green-rump Parrotlets or Spectacled Parrotlets. Reading about these wonderful other Parrotlet species that were once commonly kept as pets makes the reader feel regretful. In fact the wonderful little Spectacled Parrotlet is not as feisty as the Pacific Parrotlet, nor as shy as the Green-rump Parrotlet but someplace in between and when you read Molenda's description of them you cannot help but desire to add one to your own household.

Unfortunately finding a close-banded, hand-fed and properly socialized Spectacled Parrotlet is simply no longer possible in the US. There are some that are attempting to breed these wonderful little Parrotlets, but as Molenda says on her website: All Spectacled Parrotlets are related and there is no way currently to import unrelated breeding stock from Europe any longer. Even the Green-rump Parrotlet has become Rare in the US and it is extremely difficult to find a breeder. Some unscrupulous people have even sold Pacific Parrotlets as either Green-rump Parrotlets or even Spectacled Parrotlet to unwitting people.

If you are new to Parrotlets purchase this book! It is an excellent Beginner's Guide to Parrotlets and has extensive information on Pacific Parrotlets. The only reason I will Not give it 5-Stars is because it tends to repeat certain facts and details more than once and the Editor should have told the author to delete the repetition or at least rephrase it when the information needs to be told to the reader again.

Another reason that I downgraded this book from a complete 5-Star Rating is because it is not as detailed as the self-published --- 'Bringing Up Positive Parrotlets' by former Florida breeder Sherry Lucciola. She had an aviary called 'Positively Parrotlets' until 2009, but has not updated her website since then. It is unknown if the booklet can be purchased any longer, but that little paperback reference is such an excellent booklet for pet owners of Parrotlets and is my preferred reading material for Parrotlets because of how intensely detailed it is. If I had my way I would beg the Barron's Pet Handbooks to publish it but allow the author to Update the information included and add pictures of all the new colour mutations that are currently available.

Regardless, this book 'The Parrotlet Handbook' is a Complete MUST-Have for any person that wants a Parrotlet. Sandee L. Molenda gives accurate information on how to select a breeder, pick out your Parrotlet then bring your baby home and lovingly raise him or her. As such it is the best published Parrotlet book currently available. Unlike the Matthew M. Vriends book of the same name, this book is specifically about Parrotlets. The older Vriends book is about all "small" Parrots and is not about keeping pet companion Parrotlets, but rather focus's on breeding small parrots. Anybody who accidentally purchases his book by mistake will certainly be completely disappointed as it has nothing to offer a pet Parrotlet owner whatsoever.

Sandee L. Molenda has the best published book on Parrotlets. If you want to purchase a Parrotlet please, please purchase this book first and read it at least twice so that you retain all the information before you choose a breeder and gather your supplies to bring home your own sweet, hand-fed baby Pacific Parrotlet.

One of the most excellent aspects about this book is the author uses the correct names for the Pacific Parrotlet colour mutations.

There are currently 10 single Pacific Parrotlet Colour Mutations and they are as follows:
1.) Blue - Color can be light powder blue to turquoise. Dark eyed mutation. Males retain dark cobalt markings.
2.) Dilute (formerly "American Yellow") - Yellowish green Parrotlet with black eyes. Males retain blue eye streak, flights, back and wings although sometimes they appear violet.
3.) Fallow - Light yellow with beige and green. Bright yellow face and bright red eyes. Males retain blue markings that are lighter and have violet instead of blue markings.
4.) Lutino - Bright yellow Parrotlet with red eyes. Males have white instead of blue markings.
5.) Pastel (Formerly "European Yellow") - Yellow-green bird with more green than the dilute. Males retain blue markings. Can be differentiated from dilute by a 'lacewing' type of pattern across wings. Eyes are dark.
6.) Turquoise - A genetically incomplete blue with both green and blue markings; face is usually green with a blue body. Dark eyes and males retain blue markings.
7.) Pied (Recessive) - Green bird with yellow feathers scattered over the body and head. Dark eyed and males retain blue markings.
8.) Pied (Dominant) - Similar in appearance to recessive pied but the inheritance mode is dominant. So far, the only dominant mutation Parrotlet.
9.) Cinnamon (Recessive) - Also known as Isabelle in Europe. Light yellow with more beige and green than fallow. Eyes are deep ruby red.
10.) Cinnamon (Sex Linked) - Also known as "Pallid" in Europe. Similar in appearance to the recessive cinnamon but the first known sex linked mutation.

There are currently more than the 8 visual combinations of Pacific Parrotlet Colour Mutations available and there are two more that are not yet listed in this book or on the International Parrotlet Society website. The combinations they do list are as follows:
1.) Dilute-Blue (formerly "American White") - Combination of the dilute and blue mutations. Light, sky blue with patches of white. Dark eyes and males retain blue markings.
2.) Fallow-Blue - Combination of blue and fallow. Blue bird with red eyes. Males retain blue markings.
3.) Pastel-Blue - Similar to dilute-blue i.e., sky blue coloring with dark eyes and males retain blue markings. Can be differentiated from dilute-blue by a 'lacewing' type of pattern across wings.
4.) Lutino-Blue (visually appears as an Albino) - Pure white Parrotlet with red eyes. Males are visually indistinguishable from females unless held under a black light, blue becomes evident. DNA sexing can also be used to differentiate sex.
5.) Blue-Pied (Recessive) - Blue bird with white feathers scattered over the body and head. Dark eyed and males retain blue markings.
6.) Blue-Pied (Dominant) - Similar in appearance to recessive blue-pied but the pied inheritance mode is dominant.
7.) Fallow-Yellow - Combination of fallow and yellow. Bright yellow bird with red eyes. Different from lutino in that males retain blue markings.
8.) * Gray-Green - Green Parrotlet with dark gray overcast. Eyes are dark. Males retain blue markings.

* There is a Gray-Blue mutation too. Some have said that this mutation is a Dominate and has a Single Factor (SF) and a Double Factor (DF), but the facts are incomplete at this time. The Dilute-Turquoise is another colour combination as well and it is a colour that is highly prized and expensive. It is difficult to describe and also to photograph.

Online a lot of people tend to use the old names for the colour mutations but if they had this book they would realize why the names were changed (they are inaccurate) and stop using the frankly outdated former names. That is another reason this book is so good for new owners: It teaches the proper names for each colour mutation and explains why the IPS changed the names to begin with so there is no confusion for these new Parrotlet lovers. And it would also help to ensure that breeders stop using the outdated, incorrect names and start using the correct names when the people who read the book kindly pass along the information.

In closing this book is well worth the 4-Star Rating I've given it. Anybody who loves Parrotlets needs this book, anybody who wants a Parrotlet needs this book and anybody who wants to become a Parrotlet breeder needs this book! Truly it is an excellent reference for anybody who value's these miniature parrots, the Parrotlet.

We just got our first parrotlet last October. We've read lots about them online, but it's really nice to have a hard copy book. I've also ordered the new one due out in April. This book is very easy to read and provides more information than I'll probably ever need to know. It's also nice to read about things we learned on our own already!

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