Lovebirds are a small family of Old World parrots native to Africa. These birds are known as very social birds, while some couples stay together and mate for life.
In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at 9 types of lovebirds.
Rosy-faced Lovebirds
Yellow-collared Lovebirds
Fischer’s Lovebirds
Lilian’s Lovebirds
Black-cheeked Lovebirds
Black-collared Lovebirds
Red-headed Lovebirds
Black-winged Lovebirds
Grey-headed Lovebirds
Note: The lovebirds are ranked in no particular order.
1. Rosy-faced Lovebirds
Scientific name: Agapornis roseicollis
As the name suggests, rosy-faced lovebirds have a distinct shade of rosy-red on their faces. The rest of the body is green with some blue shading on the tail.
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There is no difference in color between males and females.
These bids are native to Southwest Africa, but a small population is developing in Puerto Rico as a result of escaped pets. In the wild, they live in small groups and are often seen feeding together (mostly on seeds and berries).
Because of this, they’re sometimes considered a pest.
The rosy-faced lovebird is a beloved pet – it’s easy to care for and they often bond with their keepers.
They’re often kept in pairs of one male and one female bird because they need social activity.
2. Yellow-collared Lovebirds
Scientific name: Agapornis personatus
Also known as the ‘masked lovebird’, this species has a noticeable tri-color pattern.
The head is black with white circles around the eyes (making it look like they’re wearing a mask) and a yellow collar separated the head from the rest of the body, which is green.
Liwonde National Park, which is the largest restricted area these birds inhabit, has a high human population density and it’s driving the birds away.
5. Black-cheeked Lovebirds
Scientific name: Agapornis nigrigenis
These lovebirds are green for the most part, but their faces are black (while the forehead can be brown), their beaks are red, and there’s a distinct white circle around the eyes.
They’re a vulnerable species, even rarer than Lilian’s lovebirds.
They only inhabit a small area bordering Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia. There are less than 10 000 specimens in the wild. Because of their small numbers, they aren’t common as pets.
Black-collared lovebirds are almost entirely green, except for the thin black collar on the back of their necks. They’re fairly common in equatorial Africa, spread over a dozen central and eastern countries.
They live in forests where they mostly feed on native figs.
This is the reason they’re not common in captivity – their diet almost exclusively consists of these figs and they won’t eat anything else unless they’re starving.
Found across rainforests in central and eastern Africa, red-headed lovebirds have entirely red faces on top of their green bodies.
They burrow to make a nest, unlike many other parrots that build nests in the canopy.
Because of this, they’re difficult to breed in captivity. In the wild, they build a nest inside a termite nest and the termites don’t bother the bird (although they’re normally aggressive insects).
The largest of the lovebirds, black-winged lovebirds can grow up to 6.5 inches.
They’re easily recognized as they’re entirely green, except for the black tips on the wings and the tail.
The males develop a red face, while the face of the female is green, making them one of the very few sexually dimorphic lovebirds (the other two being red-headed and grey-headed lovebirds).
These types of lovebirds in Madagascar aren’t common pets – they were imported to Europe in the 19th century, but they’re nervous and easily frightened in captivity. They’re also very difficult to breed.
Final Thoughts on Lovebirds
Lovebirds can be very difficult to breed in captivity, but some species, such as the rosy-faced lovebirds, are a favorite among breeders. All lovebirds are highly sociable animals that enjoy the company of other birds, while some of them enjoy the company of people.
They’re famous for monogamy, which is not that common amongst animals, and they can live up to 30 years.
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James is a native Texan with a love for birding and outdoor adventures. When he's not birdwatching, you can find him hiking, camping or playing the piano.
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