Common Name |
Blue Wing Parrotlet |
Other Names |
|
Current Classification |
Forpus xanthopterygius (Spix 1824) |
Previous Classifications |
|
Sub-Species |
Forpus xanthopterygius xanthopterygius (Spix
1824) |
Sub-Species |
Forpus x. flavescens (Salvadori) |
| Other Names |
Salvadori's Blue Wing Parrotlet |
Sub-Species |
Forpus x. olallae (Gyldenstolpe 1941) |
| Other Names |
Olalla's Blue Wing Parrotlet |
Sub-Species |
Forpus x. crassirostris (Taczanowski 1883) |
Other Names |
Large-Billed Parrotlet, Thick-Billed Blue Wing
Parrotlet |
Previous Classifications |
Forpus crassirostris |
Sub-Species |
Forpus x. flavissimus (Herllmayr 1929) |
Other Names |
Blue Rump Parrotlet, Ceara Blue Wing Parrotlet |
Sub-Species |
Forpus x. spengeli (Hartlaub) |
Other Names |
Spengel's Parrotlet |
Previous Classifications |
Forpus spengeli |
Blue Wing Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius
xanthopterygius)
Blue Wings are one of the larger parrotlet species. Weighing around 35 grams and
a length of five and a half inches, they also have gray beaks and legs. Blue Wing males
have deep blue on their wings, backs and rumps but none on their faces. Females have light
yellow green faces. Both males and females have slightly larger eyes than the other
species.They can be difficult to settle in and start breeding, often taking 6 months to a
year before producing. Even hand-fed babies are flighty, nervous birds and probably would
not make good pets except for the sub species flavissimus which is noticeably
calmer than the others.
Blue Wing Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius crassirostris)
Both the male and females in this sub species are smaller in size than the
nominate. They also have less yellow tinge in their coloring. The males of this sub
species exhibit blue markings that are paler in color and the primary-coverts are a pale
greyish violet-blue and contrast with the darker violet-blue secondary-coverts.
Blue
Wing Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius flavescens)
Both the male and female of this sub species have a more paler coloring but more
yellow particularly on the forehead, chin and facial areas. The males are a more
greenish-yellow and have a paler blue coloring than in the nominates.
Blue Wing Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius
flavissimus)
Both the males and females of this sub species are brighter green than the
nominate particularly on the on the forehead and cheeks area (but not the chin as in flavescens).
These birds are much calmer and less nervous than other sub species and may make good
hand-fed pets. It is believed that The Parrotlet Ranch is the first to breed this sub
species in the United States and is currently being considered for a first breeding award
by the American Federation of Aviculture, Society of Parrot Breeders and Exhibitors and
Avicultural Society of America.
Blue Wing Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius olallae)
This sub species more resembles the crassirostris sub
species with the exception that the blue is a darker blue.
Blue Wing Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius spengeli)
The females of this sub species have a more conspicuous yellow coloring on the
forehead than the nominate females. The males have a more pale turquoise blue rump, and
the other blue colorings are shaded more towards turquoise-violet-blue than in the
nominates.
