Although much easier to breed than Mexicans, they are difficult to find as so few were imported and only handfuls of birds are being bred. Spectacle parrotlets are a new addition to American aviculture. Approximately twenty pairs were imported in the fall of 1992. A breeding cooperative was formed to insure the preservation of bloodlines and a clean gene pool for the future. So far, the program has exceptionally well as there are now hundreds of Spectacles in this country.
Spectacles are one of the tiniest species.
The males are dark forest green with bright violet-blue rumps, backs, wings and eye rings. Females are also dark green and have an emerald green eye ring. Sclater's parrotlets have never been imported into the United States and are rare even in European aviculture. Males have darker greens and blues than another species of parrotlet. The females are somewhat lighter than the males with yellow underparts and a yellow green face.