by Miranda Suvak
Lovebirds are one of the smallest parrots bred in captivity, but don’t let their small size fool you. They have big parrot personality packed into their tiny bodies! Lovebirds are a very high-energy pet. They love to swing from toys, attack bells, and make splinters of any wood toy. But lovebirds are also sweeties that easily learn to step-up for a quick kiss, and love to hang out on their favorite person’s shoulder, snuggling into your neck and hair. Like many small animals, lovebirds seem fearless when confronted by a larger species. A lovebird will not hesitate to walk right over and bite a bigger parrot, or even a cat or dog. Lovebirds are native to the tropical rainforests of southwestern Africa. These comical little birds can live 15-30 years with the proper diet, exercise, and stimulation.
Like all parrots, a handfed, well-socialized baby bird makes the best pet. When looking for a baby, look for one that is already tame. A good breeder will socialize the babies so well that they will be curious about meeting new people, and will just jump right onto a stranger, expecting cuddles as their right. Just like any other parrot, lovebirds must be handled consistently and lovingly every day for them to stay tame and form a bond with their owners. Look for a breeder that has healthy happy babies who are very active, always playing with toys, and very curious about their environment.
One of the biggest myths about lovebirds is that they must be kept in pairs to be truly happy. If you are looking for a sweet pet bird that will bond to you, do not keep it in a pair. Lovebirds kept in pairs will bond tightly to each other, and not want to be handled by their owner nearly as much. But a single bird will form a bond with its owner, and anxiously await an opportunity to jump out of the cage for quality time with you. If you want to keep a pair of lovebirds, you must be aware of the added responsibility that it will entail. Most lovebirds are prolific breeders, so a true pair will quickly begin to raise clutches with little help from you. You will need to decide if you have the time for the added care the breeders will need, and the time necessary to devote to raising the babies. Other situations can be potentially more harmful. Pairs of females can lead to problems when they grow older and start to have hormonal periods. During these periods it is not unheard of for one female to kill another. If you do decide on a pair, do the extra research to make sure you can properly care for them.
Species
There are nine species of lovebirds, all in the Agapornis family. In the United States, the Peachface Lovebird is the most commonly kept lovebird. Peachface lovebirds are about 6” long, and weigh from 50-60 grams. The nominate coloration (or coloration found in the wild) is called “normal green.” These birds have a dark reddish-peach face, a dark green body, with an iridescent turquoise blue rump, and a horn-colored beak. Peachface Lovebirds come in many color mutations and the color alleles and factors can combine for thousands of possible color combinations.
The second most popular lovebird species in the US is the Masked Lovebird. Masked Lovebirds are slightly smaller than their Peachface cousins, and seem a bit shyer. In the wild they are found in blue and green forms. All Masked birds have black masks on the head, and white eye-rings. The green mutation has a yellow bib, while the blue mutation has a white bib. These birds can make great pets, but like all lovebirds, must be handled on a regular basis.
The third commonly found lovebird in the United States is the Fischer’s Lovebird. These birds have bright orange forehead, a darker green body than the Peachface, blue rumps, olive and yellow on their head and throat, a bright red beak, and white eye-rings. These birds are reputed to be more aggressive, or more bold and curious than some of the other lovebirds, but do make fun pets.
The other five species of lovebirds are much rarer in captivity and unlikely to be found as pet material. They are the Nyasa Lovebird, the Black-cheeked Lovebird, the Madagascar Lovebird, the Black-collared Lovebird, and the Abyssinian Lovebird.
Miranda Suvak
Please visit our favorite "lovebird expert", Vera Appleyard!
Fischers Lovebird Breeding Partnership
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