Since parrotlets are true parrots, closely related to Amazons, they must be cared for and trained in the same manner. It is interesting to note that, generally speaking, females tend to be one person birds and will often attack anyone but their person. Males, on the other hand, tend to have their favorite person but tolerate other people handling them. It is fortunate that Pacifics are the most widely available, since I believe they are also the most beautiful. Found from western Equador to north-western Peru, the males have a cobalt blue streak of feathers extending backward from the eye as well as cobalt blue on the back, rump and wings.
Many females also have an eye streak but it is usually light turquoise or emerald green.
They also have dark green backs and wings with light green feathers on the face. There is one subspecies that comes from Columbia which has recently been rediscovered in American aviculture. The most striking difference between the nominate species and the subspecies is that the females have bright, deep blue feathers on the head, rump, back and occasionally, wings. It is interesting to note this blue is not the same dark cobalt as in males but a lighter, brighter shade that is almost turquoise. Within the last year or two, there has been an explosion of color mutations in Pacifics.