Agapornis

Lovebirds are small parrots with a size of approx. 15-17 cm. All Lovebird species live in Africa except the Grey-headed Lovebird being native to Madagascar. The average lifespan is 10-15 years. Wild Lovebirds live in small flocks. They are very social and chattering.

The genus comprises a total of 9 species where most species are easy to breed and very common among breeders. Selective breeding have resulted in several popular color mutations.

Lovebirds are very popular as pets and in aviaries. They are very colorful, easy to breed and do not require much space. They are very social and affectionate. Despite their small size they can be rather noisy which is something to consider if you plan to keep a couple of Lovebirds as pets in your apartment.

The Yellow-collared Lovebird and Fischer’s Lovebird are usually calm and may well go with other species. The other Lovebird species can be aggressive to other birds – even outside the breeding season. In the aviary they may have a tendency to bite into each other’s toes – use double wire or other shielding for neighboring cages in order to avoid accidents.

Species

Agapornis canus
Gray-headed Lovebird

Agapornis fischeri
Fischer’s Lovebird

Agapornis lilianae
Lilian’s Lovebird

Agapornis nigrigenis
Black-cheeked Lovebird

Agapornis personatus
Yellow-collared Lovebird

Agapornis pullarius
Red-headed Lovebird

Agapornis roseicollis
Rosy-faced Lovebird

Agapornis swindernianus
Black-collared Lovebird

Agapornis taranta
Black-winged Lovebird

Photo Credits