Translated by Nick R
Agapornis or also called lovebirds are birds from Africa and as the origin of their name indicates (bird of love), they are popular for being loyal to their partner. If you want one at home, it’s recommended that you adopt them with a companion.
In this blog you’ll learn everything you need to know about these birds, which are the best species as a pet, and how to take care of them. Come with me.
Table of Contents
Varieties of lovebirds
Before knowing which lovebird to adopt, you should know that there are 9 species of lovebirds; however, given their characteristics and habits not all are suitable for breeding as pets. Some of them are almost endangered so you must be careful when choosing because of the similarities that may exist between each one.
The 9 species of lovebirds and their common names are:
- Agapornis taranta: Abyssinian or black-winged lovebird.
- Agapornis roseicollis: Agapornis or Namibian Lovebird.
- Agapornis pullarius: Red-headed Lovebird.
- Agapornis personatus: Black-headed or masked lovebird.
- Agapornis nigrigenis: Black-cheeked Lovebird.
- Agapornis lilianae: Nyasa’s lovebird.
- Agapornis fischeri: Fischer’s lovebird.
- Agapornis swindernianus: Black-necked Lovebird.
- Agapornis canus: Malagasy Lovebird or canus agapornis.
Which lovebird should you adopt? + Characteristics
The species I recommend you to adopt, because of their domestic habits and ease of adoption, are the Namibian lovebird and the masked lovebird.
Here is a chart of their characteristics to make it easy for you to identify them and some of their feeding habits:
Namibian lovebird
| Scientific name | Agapornis roseicollis |
| Common name | Agapornis or Namibian lovebird |
| Place of Origin | Southwestern Africa and South Africa |
| Habitat | Deserts and dry or tropical regions near spaces with few amount of water. |
| Size | 15 cm |
| Weight | 54 to 55 g |
| Average sexual and reproductive age | 2 months |
| Maximum life expectancy in captivity | 15 to 25 years |
Characteristics
- Their head, chest, and cheeks are pale pink.
- Most feathers on the rest of the body are light green.
- Its legs are greenish gray.
- The feathers covering its tail and rump are blue.
- Its wings tips are black.
Feeding
- It feeds on seeds common in its habitats such as Albizia and Acacia.
- It even consumes some flowers.
- They consume water constantly due to the conditions in which they live.
Mating of Namibian lovebirds
Namibian lovebirds, like the others of their species, are monogamous and nestlings are always raised in pairs.
Male Namibian lovebirds
The male always waits for the female’s approval before mating, as females are more dominant.
The male will bring food to the female during courtship, while nesting and during the rearing of the chicks, only until weeks 5 and 6 when the food is divided between the two.
Female Namibian lovebird
The female has been seen nesting in other species’ nests such as the Republican Weaver or White-cheeked Sparrow; however, in captivity they build their own nest together in the form of a deep dish, using materials such as bark, leaves and finely chopped grass that they keep in their rump, which is in the middle of their wings near the tail.
The incubation time is 23 days, laying 4 to 6 eggs, which can be 8 in captivity.
Chicks fledge at 43 days, however, in the wild and in captivity they may remain in the nest until their parents allow them to stay.
Mating season
It’s not known exactly at what time of the year they nest, but it is estimated that they nest during the seasons of February and May, or depending on how favorable the conditions of the place where they are located are. In captivity the season lasts all year long, taking into account that you must have elements that allow them to mate and breed safely.
Black-headed Lovebird
| Scientific name | Agapornis personatus |
| Common name | Agapornis Black-headed lovebird |
| Place of Origin | Western Africa, mainly Tanzania, and parts of Kenya like Naivasha, Nairobi, and Mombasa. |
| Habitat | Savannas and pastures close to water sources for daily consumption. |
| Size | 14 to 15 cm |
| Weight | 50 to 55 g |
| Average sexual and reproductive age | 10 months |
| Maximum life expectancy in captivity | 10 to 20 years |
Characteristics
- White eye ring
- Green feathers on the body
- Blackish and brown head.
- Black neck with yellow and lemon colors on the bib and around.
- Gray legs
Feeding
- They feed on seeds such as acacia, millet, and sorghum.
- They will also eat tree bark and other crops.
Mating of black-headed lovebirds
Being monogamous birds, lovebirds remain with their mate for the rest of their lives. A bond they form at a very young age and prevails during sexual maturity and the mating season when the behavior of the masked lovebird changes.
Male black-headed Lovebird
During mating season, the male lovebird becomes more active and his appetite increases as he is in charge of bringing food to the nest where the female is taking care of her eggs. Once the chicks are born, he is in charge of feeding them when they have feathers and are close to their independence; 44 days after their birth.
Female black-headed Lovebird
The female is in charge of building the nest, which is usually inside tree holes where she creates a dome out of branches and bark, which continues to function after the chicks are raised.
- Fun fact: It’s not uncommon to see females nesting in other birds’ nests of the same shape.
The incubation period is 23 days and once hatched, the female is in charge of feeding the chicks only until they fledge.
Mating season
During the dry season between March and April, and June and July.
In captivity, the season extends all year round depending on the conditions you give them.
How do lovebirds behave?
The behavior of lovebirds in the wild
- Their main feature will always be how sociable they are, evident in their caring behaviors among themselves with their partner or with those they live with, hence their name.
- They build emotional bonds from a very young age that last for the rest of their lives.
- They live in small flocks, from 5 to 20 birds depending on the species, reaching 100 if seeds are abundant.
- Their flight habits are extensive, gliding at some moments, although they prefer to walk for short distances.
- When there are low temperatures, they tend to gather in groups of 4 or 5 individuals or in pairs to fluff their wings and conserve heat better.
- They are most active in the morning and evening.
The behavior of domestic lovebirds
Not unlike in the wild, domestic lovebirds should live with a companion of the same species, as they are not as friendly with other birds and can harm them.
There is an exception to this, the so-called “lovebirds”, who are taken from the nest as chicks to be fed and cared for by the human hand so that, according to the colloquial belief, they get used to us and become noble in our care.
Lovebirds are very restless birds and must be in constant motion to avoid self-injurious behavior.
Being a friendly bird, they interact much more closely with humans, except for those who do not distinguish. Remember that the closeness with your lovebird involves constant work, don’t try to invade their space.
Lovebirds don’t get to talk as could happen with other species of their family, but they will sing all day unless they feel in danger and want shelter in their nest.
Keep in mind that birds will instinctively tend to mate so it will be necessary to provide them with a wooden nest 15 cm long and high by 20 cm wide, and elements such as branches and soft leaves for the female to build her nest.
How to identify if my lovebird is male or female?
Distinguishing the sex of your lovebird can be a complex task because these birds don’t have any sexual dimorphism traits; however, there are a couple of methods based on observation or through sexing that can help you to know if you have a male or female lovebird.
Ideal space for lovebirds
Suitability of the cage for your lovebird
Lovebirds belong to the same family of Australian parakeets (Psittacidae), so some of their care is similar with a few exceptions.
For the cage where your new friend will live, it is recommended that:
- It should be horizontal and have corners to act as reference points.
- The cage size should guarantee free movement for your lovebird, approximately 60 cm wide and high, by 81 cm long.
- Metallic and with horizontal bars as they will be constantly climbing.
- Avoid painted cages because your lovebird may consume traces of any harmful substance.
- It has to be located in an environment free of strong air currents and warm where it can receive some non-direct sunlight or close to windows.
- If you don’t have access to a sunny space, expose it to UV light using a fluorescent lamp.
- It’s recommended that the cage be elevated off the floor and with a wall nearby so that your lovebirds can feel more secure.
- At night, cover the cage with some fabric that allows air to pass through, but keep them in the dark in order to keep them calm and allow them to sleep.
Basic cage accessories
- Regarding the necessary cage equipment, it is important to:
- Provide a feeder in which you can leave food such as seeds or mix.
- A drinking trough that should be near a perch for the bird to drink water.
- An aluminum or metal tray at the base, usually included with the cage to prevent your lovebird’s waste from falling on the floor and to make cleaning easier.
- You can cover the base with newspaper to make it easier to clean.
Accessories and toys for the cage
Lovebirds require constant activity, particularly because of their curiosity. You should provide their cage with toys such as swings, rattles, and elements that they can grab and drop around, as well as perches and ladders for them to flutter and climb wherever they want.
A characteristic feature of these pets is that they like to chew and shred paper, so you can leave the paper for them to cut and play with.
An extra recommendation that will help to increase trust with your lovebird is to let him out of his cage for a few moments to walk freely around the place. Remember to be very careful with any open window, another animal you have at home, and plants or elements that may be harmful to your winged friend.
Grooming and daily care of your lovebird
Your lovebird’s health will depend on the cleanliness and care you take of his space and accessories, since his droppings and cage may retain dust, mites or microorganisms that can harm him and even you, leading to diseases.
Newspaper
Change the newspaper for a new one every day, removing the tray where dust or pieces of food can also be kept.
Food
You must change the food in the feeder daily, however, if you don’t want to remove it completely, you can remove the remains of food such as seed bark and add a little more new food.
Water
Never forget to replace the water in their drinking trough with fresh water to prevent the water from getting contaminated and the proliferation of bacteria in it.
Bath
Bathing is something your lovebird will enjoy very much, you can leave a shallow container with warm or cold water, depending on the temperature, so he can refresh and clean himself, submerging and shaking his head and body in the water.
Be sure to remove the container once they are done using it!
If your lovebird, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to pay much attention to the water, you can spray a little with a spray bottle, so they will be able to cool down.
Cleaning the cage
Clean your lovebird’s cage thoroughly on a monthly or weekly basis, based on the condition of the cage, as well as all the elements that may be dirty and smeared with droppings.
You can do it with a little water and soap, which you must remove very well so that it does not harm your pets.
Feeding your lovebird
A complete diet for your lovebird must be varied, my recommendation is a daily portion equal to 14% of his body weight, in which you should include various foods such as seeds, fruits, and vegetables.
A supplement of great nutritional contribution is fodder: a mixture of food with a variety of nutritional contributions for the bird such as vitamins and minerals, which is recommended to be mixed with your lovebird’s regular food.
Something to keep in mind is your lovebird’s likes and dislikes, as they may not like some of the foods suggested here, so it is up to you as the owner to be aware of these behaviors and provide them with their favorites.
Seeds
- Birdseed
- Millet
- Flaxseed
- Negrillo
- Safflower
- Flax
- Hemp
This variety of seeds can be dosed in the diet of your lovebird or give it all in food as a mixture, although it is possible that your pet feeds on the seeds that please him most and leave the rest.
You should not base all of your lovebird’s diet on seeds because of their high-fat content.
Fruits
Fruits are foods with high nutritional content for your friends, the ones I suggest for your lovebird are:
- Blackberries
- Apples
- Grapes
- Pears
- Banana
Always remember to wash fruits, peel those with hard skin like bananas and remove the food after 10 hours if it has not been consumed in its entirety.
Vegetables
Vegetables are another way to balance and supplement your lovebird’s diet; however, be aware that not all of them will be of benefit and could cause serious health problems. The vegetables I suggest are:
- Spinach
- Carrot
- Lettuce
- Chard
- Broccoli
Prohibited foods for lovebirds
As I mentioned before, not all fruit or vegetable foods are beneficial for your pet due to their high-fat content or other components that are impossible to digest and even toxic for your bird.
Foods that you should avoid at all costs for your lovebirds are:
- High in salt and sugar content food
- Fruit seeds
- Avocado
- Milk
- Coffee
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate
Basic health care for lovebirds
Your lovebird’s health will depend largely on the care you give him, so be always aware of warning signs in the state and appearance of the bird, signs such as:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Fluffy feathers.
- Discharge from the nose, beak, or eyes.
- Loss of appetite or any change in its usual behavior.
The best advice is always to consult a veterinarian expert in birds to determine the disease and type of treatment that your pet should take in order not to put its health at risk, here are some common problems in lovebirds.
| Health Problem | Symptoms | What to do? |
| Respiratory acariasis | Your lovebird will have shortness of breath, weakness, and a sore throat due to the mites lodging in the respiratory tract. | Go to your veterinarian who can recommend an acaricide and, depending on your pet’s condition, an antibiotic. It’s recommended that you always keep your lovebird’s cage clean to avoid this type of problem. |
| Retention of the egg | It will be evident if your lovebird remains incubating much longer than it should (23 days). Be alert to any signs in its cloaca such as swelling or bleeding, abdominal swelling, and difficulty breathing. | The best advice is to take your lovebird to the veterinarian. Trying something on your own, such as pushing the egg or applying some oil to the cloaca to facilitate the exit can be counterproductive and affect the health of your pet even more. |
| Conjunctivitis | Irritated and inflamed eyelashes | You can clean your lovebird’s eyes with saline or chamomile water. If there is no improvement, consult your veterinarian who will prescribe an antibiotic or eye drops. Be attentive to the cause of this due to any aerosol or chemical that is near the bird. |
Where to adopt Agapornis or lovebirds
As an introduced exotic bird, it is unlikely to find them in the wild, with the exception of Africa. I would suggest any way that you leave them in their natural environment and take care of them there.
If, on the other hand, you don’t find them in their habitat, you can go to any pet store as this species is very common to see bred in captivity.
Remember to be alert to any warning signs that indicate the condition in which you are acquiring your bird: strange signs in the plumage, eyes, beak, and legs will help you to know the health status of the lovebird you want to take home.
If they are living with other birds in the cage, try to take them with a partner, so that they do not lose the affectionate bond between their winged companions.
Conclusions
Lovebirds teach us about care and affection, taking care of them has a higher level of complexity than you might expect, but the gratitude of having a friend to interact with, enjoy their song, and learn, will be comforting.
