Love Birds: Amore Avian Style

So called because of their fondness for sitting in pairs while pruning each other’s feathers, lovebirds have an unusual history. Known by the genus, Agapornis, some of the species have been known to man for over four centuries while others were not even discovered until a few years ago. Some are very common and others very rare and elusive (like some lovers in the species, human).

These stout, small parrots with rounded tails originate from the African continent and its adjacent islands. Three of the nine species are dimorphic. For those among us who don’t speak Morph, this means that the male of the species is very different in color than the female. The Madagascar, the Red-Faced and the Abysinnian species fall into this category.

The Madagascar Lovebird also known as the Grayhead, has been freely imported for well over a hundred years. The male has a gray neck and breast and a green body while the hen is all green. This species has become increasingly rare both because of strict export regulations and the fact that these birds are not prolific breeders.

The Red-Faced Lovebird is never embarrassed, and is considered to be the first of the species ever to be imported into Europe. In England, the Duke of Bedford recorded that these birds were used in portraits (of royals posing with birds, not birds with royals) as early as the 16th century. The cocks are bright green in color with an orangey red face and crown, and the hen has a saffron face as well, but not quite as bright as the cock’s, with green under its wings. This species has the longest geographic expanse of any other, and they can be found anywhere from the coastal regions of central Africa all the way to western Ethiopia.

The Abyssinian Lovebird also known as The Blackwinged Lovebird is a high altitude dweller from Ethiopia. Little known until the early 1900s, the cock is green with a carmine red ring of feathers around the eye and black underwing coverts while the hens have no red around the eye area and the underwing coverts are generally green.

According once again to the language of Morph, monomorphic lovebirds include those species in which the sexes appear visually alike. There are two categories; those with a ring around the eye and those without a ring. (Rings around collars and bathtubs do not apply in the land of birds.)

Fischer’s Lovebirds do not play chess, sing or attempt to kill other peoples’ wives. They are merely green creatures, darker on the wings and back and lighter on the underparts. Red and violet dominate the forehead and rump and upper tail respectively. These birds breed freely in captivity and in the wild are found on the inland plateaus of Tanzania.

The Nyasa Lovebird is also known as Lillian’s Lovebird. The body is varying shades of green while the head is bright salmon to orange. The core and ring around the eye are actually bare white skin. This bird is relatively new to the world of Aviculture. It was discovered and named after Lillian Sclater in the late 1890s. It wasn’t until some twenty years later, however, that this species was imported. They are the rarest species with eye-rings in captivity.

The Black-Cheeked Lovebird is a dark green in color with lighter green on the rump and underparts. The head is brownish black, the throat salmon and the back of the head a yellowish-olive. The bill is bright red and the feet are gray. (Hard to find a matching outfit.) These birds are basically located in two river valleys, one in southwest Zambia and the other in the Victoria Falls area of Zimbabwe. This species was not discovered until around 1900 and importation began around that time. They breed well in colonies.
The Masked Lovebird is green with a head that ranges in color from brown to sooty black. Around its neck is a yellow collar, the bill is red and the feet are blackish gray. They are found on the inland plateaus in northeastern Tanzania and were not known to the modern world until the late 1800s. They were not imported until the 1920s. These birds breed freely in colonies.

Those species without eye rings include the Peachfaced Lovebird and the Black Collared Lovebird. First discovered in the late 1700s, the Peachfaced is found in the dry country of South Angola. They are unique in the sense that while in the wild, these birds are usually found in groups of ten. (One can only wonder. Do they know how to count?) In captivity, they are most prolific. Their plumage is bright almond-green with a brilliant blue on the rump. Varying shades of rose-red adorn the head and neck.

The Black-Collared Lovebird is also known as Swindern’s Lovebird. It is unique in that within this species there is also a distinct and separate sub-species. Agapornis Swinderniana sports many colors, but the body is mainly dusty green with a yellow wash on the throat. A narrow black collar is found on the nape of the neck with a chrome yellow area below.

In the case of the sub-species, Agapornis Swinerniana Zenkeri, the collar is extended and is orange instead of black. It is also a slightly brighter green and a bit larger than its "brother." These birds have never been successfully exported from their home in the Cameroons east of the central part of Zaire. This sub species was kept alive by the efforts of a missionary who kept them on a diet composed of sycamore figs.

If you wish to bring a lovebird into your home, it is advised to start with a young Peach Faced lovebird. It is the easiest of the breed to keep, and its engaging personality makes it an endearing pet. It is also true that the younger the bird, the easier it is to train and become acclimated to its new owner, the diet provided and the daily routines of its new environment.

Lovebirds need a cage, which has at least two places to perch, with plenty of room to fly from one to the other. A cage with a horizontal measurement of 24 inches to 30 inches is ideal. The perches need to be a size that is comfortable for the bird’s feet, not too small and not too large. These birds need the same size food as cockatiels and other small parrots. Try to give fresh foods to your bird at least three or four times a week. Vegetables and fruits often fare well. It is also a good idea to keep cuttlebone in the cage at all times, which provides calcium for the bird. Millet sprays, which are sometimes referred to as "seed trees" provide good treats.

Lovebirds are very hardy creatures and do not need to be kept particularly warm all the time. (Love, after all, makes its own heat.) They do like to bathe frequently and they will often do so in their water dishes, if they are large enough. They also like to be sprayed with water mist once in a while and this helps them maintain their feathers. They make wonderful pets, but don’t forget to cover them at night before going to sleep. They need their privacy too while pruning and…celebrating the day of all lovers, St. Valentine’s Day.

Happy St Valentine’s Day to all and to all a good night.

Sources:
http://www.africanlovebirdssociety.com/introduction.htm, Dubic, Roland G. "Introduction To LoveBirds."