Lovebird | Beautiful, Social and Affectionate Pet Bird

Lovebird is the famous name of Agapornis which is a small species of parrot. Lovebird has 8 species native to African continent, including grey, headed which is native to Madagascar. Lovebirds are very sociable, friendly, and faithful to the pairs and spend a lot of time sitting together. They live in small groups. They eat fruits, vegetables, seeds, and grass, etc. The black-winged lovebirds also eat insects & figs, however, black collared lovebirds need special food requirements for the native figs, making them challenging to keep in detention.

Many species of Lovebird are kept as pets, and multiple colored mutations have been selected and produced in the aviculture.

Lifespan

The normal lifespan of Lovebird is expected to be 10 to 15 years.

Length and Weight

The typical length of Lovebird is around 13 to 17 cm (5 to 7 inches). The length of wings is up to 24 cm, with a single wing about 9 cm long. The normal weight of Lovebird is 1½  to 2 oz (40 to 60 grams).

Appearance and Colors

Lovebirds are the tiniest parrots, categorized by a sturdy build, a short blunt tail, and a comparatively big & sharp beak. The wild type Lovebirds are generally green with a range of colors on their upper body, subject to the variety of species. Some species having the protuberant white ring near the eyes include Fischer's Lovebird, Black Cheeked Lovebird, and Masked Lovebird. Several color modified varieties of the species have been bred selectively which are common in the aviculture.

Lovebird's Nesting

Females in some species, collect straw or nesting material and carry it to the nest through different means. The Peach-Faced Lovebird gathers nesting material and straw in the feathers of their rump, whereas, the Masked Lovebirds brings nesting-material back in their beak. Once the Lovebirds start building their nests, the mating process will begin. During this time, Lovebirds mate recurrently. The females lay eggs after three to five days and spend more time inside the nests. After the first egg, a new egg will follow every other day until the clutch is full. The females produce usually four (4) to six (6) eggs, even without a nest or a male.

Lovebird Species

Yellow-Collared Lovebird (Masked Lovebird)

Appearance: Yellow Collared Lovebirds are usually 14 cm (5½ inches) long, having yellow and green color mutations with blue tail-feathers.

Rang: Yellow Collared Lovebirds are mostly found in Northeast Tanzania.

Fischer's Lovebird

Appearance: Fischer’s Lovebirds are generally 14 cm (5½  inches) long, having color mutations of green, orange chest & head, blue lower-back, and hindquarters, red-beak, and white eye-rings.

Rang: Fischer’s Lovebirds are found in south and southeast region of Lake Victoria (Northern Tanzania).

Lilian's Lovebird (Nyasa Lovebird)

Appearance: Lilian's Lovebirds are typically 13 cm (5 inches) long in size, with color mutations of green (also with greenback and green rump), orange-head, red-beak, and white eye-rings.

Rang: Lilian's Lovebirds are mostly found in Malawi.

Black-Cheeked Lovebird

Appearance: Black-Cheeked Lovebird are usually 14 cm (5½ inches) long in size with color mutations of green, brownish-black cheeks & throat, reddish-brown brow & fore-crown, orange upper-chest, red-beak, and white eye-rings.

Rang: Black-Cheeked Lovebird are found in Zambia.

Peach Faced Lovebird (Rosy Faced Lovebird)

Appearance: Peach Faced Lovebirds are usually 15 cm (6 inches) long in size with color mutations of mostly green, orange-face, blue lower-back & rump, and horn-colored beak.

Rang: Peach Faced Lovebirds are normally found in Angola, Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia.

Black Winged Lovebird (Abyssinian Lovebird)

Description: Black-Winged Lovebirds are usually 16.5 cm (6.5 inches) long in size with color mutations of green, red-beak, and nearly black wing-feathers.

Sexual Dimorphism: The males have red brow & crown, while the females have green plumage.

Rang: Black-Winged Lovebirds are mostly found in range Southern Eritrea to Southwestern Ethiopia.

Red Headed Lovebird (Red Faced Lovebird)

Appearance: Red Headed Lovebirds are normally 15 cm (6 inches) long in size with color mutations of mostly green and red upper neck & face.

Sexual Dimorphism: The males have broader & darker red face, head, and beak than the females.

Rang: Red Headed Lovebirds are usually found in large parts of Central Africa.

Grey Headed Lovebird (Madagascar Lovebird)

Description: Grey Headed Lovebirds are 13 cm (5 inches) long in size with color mutations of mostly green with darker-green back and pale-grey beak.

Sexual Dimorphism: The males have grey upper-body, neck, and the head.

Rang: Grey Headed Lovebirds are commonly found in Madagascar.

Black Collared Lovebird (Swindern's Lovebird)

Appearance: Black Collared Lovebird are typically 13½ cm (5 inches) long in size with color mutations of mostly green. The brown-collar Lovebirds have black upper-side at the back of neck and dark-grey or black beak.

Rang: Black Collared Lovebird are usually found in Equatorial Africa.

Aggression Problems with other Birds and Pet Animals

Because of leading and defensive nature, the Lovebirds must be overseen when mingling with other species or animal pets like cat, dog, small mammals or pet birds. The Lovebirds can be antagonistic to other birds or even other Lovebirds. Hand-raised Lovebirds tend not to be frightened. Toe biting can happen when Lovebirds are mixing/kept with small birds such as Parrotlets, Budgies, and Docile Cockatiels. Lovebirds should not be kept with other birds as they can be injured or can hurt the other birds.

Lovebirds as Pets

Lovebirds have a very loud voice. They can make loud and shrill noises. Some Lovebirds make noises for all the day, mostly during dawn and dusk. These are the routine parrot activities as flight birds, where they are calling to each other in the early morning and just before they relax for the night.

Lovebirds are more energetic and they like to chew things. When they are flying inside the home, it is wise to keep them cautiously and protect any furniture, equipment, electrical wiring or anything else that they could probably chew on. If available, place fresh willow or oak branches at the appropriate places to please their natural habit. The holders must be aware of other things and dangerous places when keeping Lovebirds at home such as open toilet bowls, clear glass-walls, fumes or smokes from the kitchen, and chemical fumes from the home-cleaning products. Contact with other pets like cats and dogs at home must also be overseen which may understand the Lovebird as a prey bird.

Some persons who possess the birds as pets may experience the clipping of flight-feathers for care and protection. This also increases docility between the birds and the owners.

Different types of Lovebirds can mate and produce both sterile and fertile cross descendants. The Agapornis Personatus mate with the Agapornis Fischeri and produce fertile-hybrid descendants. These descendants have common habits and manners of the parents. It is suggested that birds of only the same species or of the same sex should be kept together for the above-said reasons.

Lovebird Societies

There are only two Lovebird Societies working in the USA:

(a)    The Agapornis Breeders & Exhibitors

(b)    The African Love Bird Society.