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Periwinkle – what are these little parrots?

Periwinkles are birds that come from South America. In the wild, they inhabit areas of Bolivia, Brazil and Peru, where they choose moist deciduous forests. Periwinkles are quite long-lived birds, especially considering their small size – they can easily live to 25 years, and there are also individuals who live 40 years! This must be taken into account when deciding to buy this bird. In many other respects, they are ideal birds for the whole family. The appearance, characteristics and prices of the pet, which we present in our article, are definitely worth getting to know!

Periwinkles and their color varieties

The described birds are characterized by small sizes. They measure no more than 23 centimeters in length and weigh about 175 grams. Males aren’t that different from females, so the best way to tell them apart would be genetic testing by your veterinarian. Periwinkles come in two color varieties that differ slightly. The individual species are:

  • periwinkle periwinkle – (also known as golden-headed periwinkle) is distinguished by several characteristic colors of its plumage. The belly – as the name suggests – is white. The tail, back of the legs and head are yellow or light orange, and the wings of this bird are green;
  • black-headed periwinkle – (also known as black-headed periwinkle) these birds roughly resemble the above variety. The only difference is the presence of black on the top of the head, and also here and there on the feathers (especially at their ends).

The unique character of the periwinkle – a parrot for the whole family

Periwinkles are very social birds and love the company of the whole family. They are great for families with children who can observe and play with pets. It is worth noting, however, that these parrots do not get along well with other species of birds. They can be aggressive towards them. So if you choose to have more than one bird, make sure that both animals are of the same species. Aggression towards people is extremely rare and is usually the result of poor socialization. Periwinkles accustomed to humans will be happy to play with him, and even demand the company of someone to play with.

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In which cage should the periwinkle be kept?

Although these birds are not large, they are very active animals. Periwinkles require a sufficiently large cage in which they can indulge in their favorite activities. You can keep them in a spacious aviary, as they will not have to be released from the cage for flights around the house. The room should also include play accessories – ropes, swings and houses that will stimulate the intellectual development of the bird.

Periwinkle parrot – what nutrition does it require?

These birds are not very picky and do not have special nutritional requirements. They should be fed like most parrots, i.e. with special food intended for them. In addition, periwinkles should have access to fresh vegetables and fruit. It is worth giving them:

  • carrot;
  • broccoli;
  • red pepper;
  • spinach;
  • Apple;
  • grenade;
  • banana;
  • kiwi;
  • mango;
  • oranges.

Here you can be guided by the seasonality of the fruit and enter the species when you can buy them in the store. Protein can be supplemented with special larvae or chopped into small pieces of cheese. What should periwinkles drink? You can give the birds water with the addition of honey.

Black-headed periwinkle – price for one bird

What is the cost of purchasing periwinkle? The price of birds will definitely not be low. Most often you have to pay about PLN 2,000 for them, although sometimes the amount goes up to PLN 3,000. The price of the animal itself must also include the costs of the cage or aviary, as well as the necessary accessories and regular food purchases. You should therefore think carefully about your purchase.

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Periwinkles are very pretty birds with uncomplicated requirements. Their only drawback is the high price. However, this can be understood because they are long-lived creatures and you can make a faithful companion for years.

Photo source: Hector Bottai via Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0