Lovebirds are lovely birds to maintain as pets since they’re cuddly, simply as their title suggests. These little “pocket parrots” are colourful additions to a household and a comparatively low-maintenance fowl for newbie house owners.
There are a complete of 9 species of lovebird at the moment found globally. Not all of those species are generally saved as pets. Three of those species are hottest to maintain as loving companions.
Habitat and Historical past of Lovebirds
All the lovebird species that we’ve discovered name the continent of Africa their dwelling. Lovebirds are likely to stay in small flocks within the wild. They’re all a part of the Agapornis household and are carefully associated.
There are solely three lovebird species which can be generally saved in captivity. These embrace the Rosy-Confronted Lovebird, Fischer’s Lovebird, and the Black Masked Lovebird. Many lovebird species have two or extra frequent names, making it simpler to check with them by their scientific names usually dialog.
Within the wild, some lovebird populations have gotten a trigger for concern. These embrace the Nyasa, Fischer’s, and Black-Cheeked Lovebirds. They don’t seem to be on the endangered species checklist but, however all of them fall into “threatened” and “weak” classes.
In captivity, these birds are thriving. They’re a few of the hottest fowl species to personal as pets since they’re so energetic and thrilling. They’ve curious personalities and stay without end playful and social. They typically type intense bonds with their house owners and are recognized to be affectionate birds.
The 9 Forms of Lovebird Species
1. Rosy-Confronted or Peach-Confronted Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis)
Rosy/peach-faced lovebirds are the most typical lovebird species to personal as a pet. Their stunning plumage and cute faces are what most of us image after we consider a lovebird. They’re comparatively straightforward to take care of as nicely however can get aggressive at occasions. It’s best to watch out with them once you first start your interactions.
Look
The frequent names for lovebirds typically describe their look, and this one isn’t any totally different. They’ve rosy pink faces and throats. They have an inclination to have a darker orange or crimson shade above their eyes and on their brow.
The plumage throughout nearly all of their physique is darkish inexperienced, fading right into a black rump. Their ft and legs are gray. These stunning birds sometimes have darkish brown or black eyes with a horn-colored beak.
Habitat
The Rosy-Confronted Lovebird is native to dry areas inside Southwest Africa. They don’t seem to be choosy with their environment and can stay in open countrysides, woodlands, mountains, and even semi-desert areas close to water sources.
Dimension
This species of lovebird is cute and comparatively small. They whole about 7-8 inches from head to tail tip and solely weigh just below 2 ounces.
2. Black-Masked or Yellow-Collared Lovebirds (Agapornis personata)
This lovebird has two frequent names since there isn’t a big settlement concerning which of their options are extra outstanding: the black masking on their face or the brilliant yellow collar beneath. They’re one other frequent pet species and are a bit simpler to personal since they are typically much less aggressive than Rosy-Confronted Lovebirds.
Look
Ranging from the highest, these birds have a black head that appears like a masks round their eyes and beak. The masks characteristic is made much more outstanding by the white rings round their black or deep brown eyes. Their beaks are additionally good in a vivid, stand-out crimson.
Beneath all of it is a collar of vivid yellow fading rapidly right into a inexperienced that runs the size of their our bodies. Generally their wings or tails can have blue accents. Their ft and legs are gray.
Habitat
The Black-Masked Lovebird shouldn’t be as widespread because the Rosy-Confronted Lovebird. They’re native solely to the northeast of Tanzania. Nevertheless, their subspecies have been launched into Kenya and Burundi with some success.
Dimension
Males are barely bigger than females on this species. Nevertheless, the birds nonetheless gained’t weigh over 1.75 ounces and are sometimes even smaller than Rosy-Confronted Lovebirds, coming in at a most of about 2.3 inches.
3. Fischer’s Lovebirds (Agapornis fischeri)
Fischer’s Lovebirds are the final of the frequent pet species, however they stand out from the gang with their good and extremely different plumage colours. They’re widespread due to their extraordinarily playful nature, however they are typically quieter than different parrot or lovebird species. They’re energetic and social and are sometimes excellent at bonding.
Look
The Fischer’s Lovebird is primarily lined in vibrant green-blue plumage with slight shade adjustments throughout the chest, wings, and again. This shade fades right into a golden yellow on their neck and steadily turns orange and brown on the tops of their heads. They’ve darkish orange beaks and rings of white round their eyes.
Habitat
These birds are solely native to Africa’s small area alongside Lake Victoria’s southern belt in Tanzania. Local weather change has brought on a few of them emigrate to Rwanda and Burundi.
Dimension
These are among the many smallest lovebird species, solely reaching about 5 inches from head to tail and weighing between 1.5-2 ounces.
4. Nyasa or Lilian’s Lovebirds (Agapornis lilianae)
Nyasa, or Lilian’s Lovebirds, can generally be present in captivity. Nevertheless, they’re typically solely saved by breeders or collectors since they’re so troublesome to breed. They’re one of many populations which can be in relative hazard of dying out. They’re one of many least studied of the lovebird species, partially since they’re uncommon.
Look
The Nyasa Lovebird seems comparatively much like Fischer’s Lovebird however with rather more light colours. The entrance of their face and the highest of their head is a rosy crimson or orange shade. This fades into gentle orange after which yellow down their heads and on their chest. The remainder of their physique is a vivid inexperienced, with some blue tint on the wings. They’ve a white ring round their black eyes and a vivid orange beak.
Habitat
These birds have a wider native area however far fewer and smaller flocks. They stay in areas of Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Dimension
These little lovebirds come to a whopping most of 5.4 inches from the highest of their heads to their tails. They’ve much less mass than different species, weighing between 1-1.3 ounces.
5. Black-Cheeked Lovebirds (Agapornis nigrigenis)
The Black-Cheeked Lovebird is to not be confused with the Black-Masked Lovebird. They have been initially regarded as a subspecies of the Nyasa Lovebird however have since been acknowledged as a person species.
Look
These birds are primarily lined in darkish inexperienced plumage on their wings and lime inexperienced on their underside. This fades into a lightweight brown on their chest after which into an orange. The highest of their head and across the beak is a darkish brown with white circles round their eyes. They’ve vivid crimson beaks.
Habitat
Black-Cheeked Lovebirds are native to southwestern Zambia. A few of them have been noticed in Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana as they migrate for water sources.
Dimension
These birds common 5.5 inches in size and weigh about 1.4 ounces at their heaviest.
Associated Learn: Find out how to Learn Lovebird Physique Language (with Photos)
6. Black-Winged or Abyssinian Lovebird (Agapornis taranta)
The Abyssinian Lovebird has fairly a unique look in comparison with the opposite lovebird species featured above. They’re uncommon to search out anyplace, though they’ve been gaining some recognition as pets all through current years.
Look
These birds have a vivid crimson beak and head and shouldn’t have rings round their eyes. From the highest of their head to the underside of their tail, they’re vibrant shades of inexperienced. The one exception is their black underwing. Generally, females are completely inexperienced with none shades of black or crimson on their our bodies.
Habitat
The Abyssinian Lovebirds are native to the mountainous areas of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Dimension
These birds are normally bigger than the opposite species of lovebirds. They’re usually 6-7 inches lengthy and weigh a mean of 1.7 ounces.
7. Madagascar or Gray-Headed Lovebirds (Agapornis cana)
The Madagascar Lovebird is native to Madagascar and might be discovered on some neighboring islands as nicely. They don’t seem to be at the moment saved in captivity.
Look
Men and women have totally different shade patterns on this lovebird species. Females are completely lined in inexperienced plumage with some darker shades on their wings and alongside their again. Generally it’s paler on their chest.
Males are completely lined in a pale gray shade, nearly wanting off-white.
Habitat
These birds are native to the island of Madagascar and stay inside a rainforest atmosphere since they want loads of water to outlive. They may also be discovered on some neighboring islands.
Dimension
Madagascar Lovebirds are the smallest of the entire lovebird species and measure 5 inches or much less in size and weigh between 1-1.25 ounces.
8. Crimson-Confronted Lovebirds (Agapornis pullaria)
Crimson-faced Lovebirds are stunning and have a sexy demeanor. This mixture has resulted in lots of makes an attempt to breed them in captivity, all of which have been met with failure. They’ve explicit wants that solely their native atmosphere can fulfill in nesting, companionship, and food regimen.
Look
Crimson-faced Lovebirds have beautiful inexperienced plumage throughout their our bodies, tails, and necks. Their solely shade distinction seems on the entrance of their faces, brow, and beak. This shade is often a peachy-orange.
Habitat
The Crimson-Confronted Lovebirds have the most important native space. They are often discovered all through the entire tropical rainforests of Africa that run alongside the equator. The nations they present up in embrace Uganda, Sierra Leone, Angola, and Liberia.
Dimension
They’re about 6 inches lengthy once they attain full maturity, and so they usually weigh round 1.5 ounces.
9. Black-Collared or Swindern’s Lovebird
The Black-Collared Lovebird is one other scarce species. They don’t seem to be saved in captivity since they’ve a selected requirement for native figs of their food regimen. They’re additionally fairly shy of all creatures and are sometimes noticed very excessive within the timber they name their dwelling.
Look
These birds solely have a couple of markings on their physique to set them aside since they’re primarily lined with inexperienced plumage. In any other case, they’ve a particular black collar across the again of their neck.
Habitat
These birds even have a wide range of land that they will probably name dwelling. This contains the rainforests of Africa, much like the species featured above. You discover them within the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Central African Republic, Uganda, and Liberia.
Dimension
This species is common for lovebirds, being about 5 inches lengthy from high to tail and weighing round 1.4 ounces.
Featured Picture Credit score: BravissimoS, Shutterstock
