Difference Between Love Birds & Parrotlets

Love birds and parrotlets are both small varieties of parrot, with neither one growing to be larger than about 6 inches in length. Both of these types of pint-sized parrot are intelligent, inquisitive and friendly and can make excellent pets for apartment dwellers or those with allergies to dogs and cats. Although there are a number of similarities between love birds and parrotlets, there are some important differences.

  1. Species of Love Bird and Parrotlet

    • The nine species of love bird originate from sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Love birds include Gray-headed, Red-faced, Black-winged, Black-collared, Peach-faced, Fischer's, Masked, Black-cheeked and Nyasa species. Red-faced love birds have a large habitat that ranges from West Africa across most of the continent, while other love bird varieties have much more restricted geographic ranges. Parrotlets come in 16 different species that originate in South America or Mexico. Species of parrotlet include Pacific or Celestial parrotlet, Green-rumped parrotlet, Spectacled parrotlet, Blue-winged parrotlet, Yellow-faced parrotlet, Mexican parrotlet, Sclater's parrotlet, Tepui parrotlet, Brown-backed parrotlet, Golden-tailed parrotlet, Red-winged parrotlet, Sapphire-rumped parrotlet, Scarlet-shouldered parrotlet, Seven-colored parrotlet, Spot-winged parrotlet and Amazonian parrotlet. Parrotlets' range varies with the species, from Peru to Brazil and as far north as Mexico.

    Noise

    • As innocuous as they appear, love birds are known for their loud screeching. A love bird will rub and preen sweetly, then emit a shrill, staccato shriek. Parrotlets, on the other hand, are known for being one of the more quiet members of the parrot family. Although they have the vocal cords to make louder noises, most parrotlets spend the day peeping placidly.

    Personality

    • Love birds and parrotlets are known for bossiness. In fact, it is best not to house parrotlets or love birds with other birds as they are known to pick fights, bite toes, and otherwise engage in other unsavory behavior to establish dominance over other birds.

    Housing

    • Love birds tend to be happiest when paired, which is how they are housed in pet shops. Love birds are very needy, especially when they are not in a pair. Although some bird owners can keep a single love bird content, you should not attempt this unless you have a great deal of time to devote to the bird. Paired love birds are more content overall, but tend to be less hand-tame because there is less impetus to bond with you. Parrotlets usually are kept as single birds unless you are attempting to breed. Your parrotlet will be happiest in its own cage, and other birds will be safer without having to worry about being nipped by an aggressive parrotlet.

    Life Span

    • Both love birds and parrotlets can live quite a long time, but parrotlets are said to live a bit longer. Love birds' life span averages 15 to 20 years, and that of parrotlets is estimated to be closer to 20 to 30 years. Because parrotlets have been kept in captivity for less time than love birds, there is still some debate about the true life span of pet parrotlets.

    Cost

    • Since love birds have been a popular pet for a number of years, some varieties are more commonly found in pet stores and tend to be priced lower. As of 2011, common peach-faced love birds tend to cost between $40 and $120, depending on coloration. Parrotlets are priced a bit higher at around $100 to $300. Most of the costs related to keeping a pet bird will be the same for both love birds and parrotlets.