What is Peach-faced Lovebird?

Peach-faced Lovebird
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Genus: Agapornis Species: A. roseicollis
Binomial name
Agapornis roseicollis (Vieillot, 1818)

The Peach-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), also known as the Rosy-faced Lovebird, is a species of lovebird native to arid regions in southwestern Africa such as the Namib Desert. A loud and constant chirper, these birds are very social animals and often congregate in small groups in the wild. They eat throughout the day and take frequent baths. Coloration can vary widely among populations but females are generally darker and greener, whilst males are smaller and brighter. Lovebirds are renowned for their sleep position in which they sit side-by-side and turn their faces in towards each other. Also, females are well noted to tear raw materials into long strips, "twisty-tie" them onto their backs, and fly distances back to make a nest.

Housing

Lovebirds, being an active bunch, need some room to move in their cage. A cage approximately 24" W x 14" D x 30" H (60 W x 35 D x 75 H cm) is a good size, but if you can afford it, the bigger the better. Make sure the bars are spaced no wider than 3/8" (1 cm) apart, otherwise your bird will be able to stick its head through the bars. Add a variety of perches, so your lovebird can excerise its feet to prevent arthritis. The perches should be at least 4" (10 cm) long and 1/2" (13 mm) in diameter. Also, a variety of different toys should be placed in the cage to prevent your bird from boredom and loneliness. Do not get your lovebird parakeet toys, because they can tear them apart easily. Try getting cockatiel toys that are more durable. Do not get toys with small bells, because your lovebird can get them stuck in its throat.

Feeding

Peachfaced lovebirds thrive when fed the proper diet. They should be fed a wide variety of active food, including vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. They are not to be fed dairy products, like chocolate and cheese. Carrots, beans, squash, and corn are excellent foods that provide healthy proteins. Grains should include millet, quinoa, winterwheat, and others. Except strawberries (which contain trace amounts of carcinogenic pesticides) feed lovebirds a rare treat of fresh fruit. Many are attuned to the taste of grapes. These birds also eat various seeds, pellets, and pastas. While seeds and pellets are easy to give to birds, they are not part of their natural diet and should be used in conjunction with vegetables. Good seed and pellet mixes include a large array of different seed types. Be sure to change any perishable food within a few hours of placing it in their housing or at the maximum within one day.

Personality

Peachfaced love birds get their name for their affection towards their owner or other birds. Lovebirds are very playful and love to have all the attention centered around them. If trained correctly, peachedfaced lovebirds will happily perch on your shoulder. All lovebirds are unique; they all have different temperaments. Some are calmer than others, while some are the most stubborn creatures you will ever meet. One thing you will find in every lovebird is that they need companionship. If you cannot provide attention, you will be suggested to purchase another one. But be warned: If you buy two lovebirds, they may not interact with you as much as if they were by themselves.

Breeding

Breeding these animals, like many other birds, is a task for advanced care-takers only. You must provide your soon-to-be mother bird with plenty of space and clean food each day. Hens need a nest box, which can be a wooden box made specifically for small parrots, or even a 6x6x8 inch cardboard box with a hole cut in the front. With a cardboard box, a hole that is large enough for a hand to fit through is often a good idea in case a chick needs to be removed from the nest. Hens also need a plentiful supply of palm fronds, "shredders" or clean medium weight paper. Lovebird hens are very talented at shredding paper into long strips which they will often store in their rump feathers for transport back to the nest box. Once there, they will chew the strips into soft, fluffy padding for their nest. If starting a new nest box, you can help your hen by putting an inch-thick layer of CareFresh, or equivalent, unscented bedding material in the bottom.

Pregnant hens need an increased amount of protein and calcium in their diets. Make sure that there is easy access to a cuttlebone and organic scrambled egg.

Dangers and toxins

• blue-green algae
• avocado
• Teflon
• chocolate
• alcohol
• dog and cat saliva
• household cleaners and detergents

Mutations

Main article: Peach-faced Lovebird colour genetics

Peachfaced Lovebirds have the deepest range of mutations available of all the Agapornis species. Generally speaking, these mutations fall into the genetic categories of Dominant, Co-dominant, Recessive, and Sex-Linked Recessive (referred to simply as "sex-linked"). While this seems fairly straight-forward, it can quickly become confusing when a single specimen has multiple examples of these mutational traits.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Agapornis roseicollis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Luft, Stefan (2007): Parrots of Africa (1st edition). Halberstadt, Germany. ISBN 978-3833484452

External links

• Peach-faced Lovebird Range Expansion Data in Greater Phoenix, Arizona
• African Love Bird Society An international organization dedicated to the keeping, breeding, and showing of Love Birds.
• Yahoo Groups Lovebird List The largest lovebird list on the Internet!