Lovebird

Lovebird is one of nine species of the genus Agapornis (Greek: αγάπη agape 'love'; όρνις ornis 'bird'). They are a social and affectionate small parrot. Eight species are native to the African continent, while the Grey-headed Lovebird is native to Madagascar. Their name stems from the parrots' strong,monogamous pair bonding and the long periods in which paired birds will spend sitting together. Lovebirds live in small flocks and eat fruit, vegetables, grasses and seed. Black-winged Lovebirds also eat insects and figs, and the Black-collared Lovebirds have a special dietary requirement for native figs, making them problematic to keep in captivity.
Some species are kept as pets, and several color mutations were selectively bred in aviculture. Their average lifespan is 10 to 15 years.

Lovebirds are 13 to 17 centimeters in length and from 40 to 60 grams in weight. They are among the smallest parrots, characterized by a stocky build, a short blunt tail, and a relatively large, sharp beak. Wildtype lovebirds are mostly green with a variety of colors on their upper body, depending on the species. The Fischer's Lovebird, Black-cheeked Lovebird, and the Masked Lovebird have a prominent white ring around their eyes. The Abyssinian Lovebird, the Madagascar Lovebird, and the Red-faced Lovebird are sexually dimorphic. Many colour mutant varieties have been produced by selective breeding of the species that are popular in aviculture

The lovebird genus comprises nine species of which five are monotypic and four are divided into subspecies.[2] Eight of them are native in the mainland of Africa and the Madagascar Lovebird is native to Madagascar. In the wild the different species are separated geographically.
Traditionally, lovebirds are divided in 3 groups:
  • 1. the sexually dimorphic species: Madagascar, Abyssinian, and Red-headed Lovebird
  • 2. the intermediate species: Peach-faced Lovebird
  • 3. the white-eye-ringed species: Masked , Fischer's, Lilian's, and Black-cheeked Lovebirds
However, this division is not fully supported by phylogenetic studies, as the species of the dimorphic group are not grouped together in a single clade.
Species and subspecies:[4]
  • Rosy-faced LovebirdAgapornis roseicollis(Vieillot, 1818) — or Peach-faced Lovebird
    • Agapornis roseicollis catumbellaB.P. Hall, 1952
    • Agapornis roseicollis roseicollis(Vieillot 1818)
  • Yellow-collared LovebirdAgapornis personatusReichenow, 1887 — or Masked Lovebird
  • Fischer's LovebirdAgapornis fischeri, Reichenow, 1887
  • Lilian's LovebirdAgapornis lilianaeShelley, 1894 — or Nyasa Lovebird
  • Black-cheeked LovebirdAgapornis nigrigenisW.L. Sclater, 1906
  • Grey-headed LovebirdAgapornis canus(Gmelin, 1788) — or Madagascar Lovebird
    • Agapornis canus ablectaneusBangs, 1918
    • Agapornis canus canus(Gmelin, 1788)
  • Black-winged LovebirdAgapornis taranta(Stanley, 1814) — or Abyssinian Lovebird
  • Red-headed LovebirdAgapornis pullarius(Linnaeus, 1758) — or Red-faced Lovebird
    • Agapornis pullarius pullarius(Linnaeus, 1758)
    • Agapornis pullarius ugandaeNeumann, 1908
  • Black-collared LovebirdAgapornis swindernianus(Kuhl, 1820) — or Swindern's Lovebird
    • Agapornis swindernianus eminiNeumann, 1908
    • Agapornis swindernianus swindernianus(Kuhl, 1820)
    • Agapornis swindernianus zenkeriReichenow, 1895
  • Yellow-collared Lovebird
    or Masked Lovebird
    (Agapornis personatus
Masked Lovebird (Agapornis personata) pet on cage.png

Fischer's Lovebird
(Agapornis fischeri)

Pap Pfirsichköpfchen Agapornis fischeri 070608 1.jpg

Lilian's Lovebird
or Nyasa Lovebird
(Agapornis lilianae)

Agapornis lilianae 2c.jpg

Black-cheeked Lovebird
(Agapornis nigrigenis)

Agapornis nigrigenis -Valls Zoo -Spain-4a-4c.jpg

Rosy-faced Lovebird
or Peach-faced Lovebird
(Agapornis roseicollis)

Agapornis roseicollis -Peach-faced Lovebird pet on perch.jpg

Black-winged Lovebird
or Abyssinian Lovebird
(Agapornis taranta)

Agapornis taranta (female and male).jpg

Red-headed Lovebird
or Red-faced Lovebird
(Agapornis pullarius)

Agapornis pullarius.jpg

Grey-headed Lovebird
or Madagascar Lovebird
(Agapornis canus)

Grey-headed Lovebird.jpg

Black-collared Lovebird
or Swindern's Lovebird
(Agapornis swindernianus)

Stavenn Agapornis swindernianus 00.jpg


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