Lovebird
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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Lovebirds | image = agapornis.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Peach-faced Lovebird (Dutch blue) | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Aves | ordo = Psittaciformes | familia = Psittacidae | genus = Agapornis | genus_authority = Selby, 1836 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = Nine - see text }}
A lovebird (genus Agapornis, Greek for "lovebird") is a very social and affectionate parrot.
The name "lovebird" stems from their affectionate nature. They form a very close bond with their mate, which will usually last their entire life. This is reflected by their name in other languages: in German they are called "die Unzertrennlichen" and in French "les inséparables"- "inseparables". For this reason it is often believed that lovebirds in captivity can only be kept in pairs. This is, however, a myth as a lovebird - like other parrots - is a social animal which needs a great deal of care and attention from its flock mates be they other lovebirds or humans. It is, therefore, possible for a lovebird to bond with their owner, given a lot of love and attention. However, it is still recommended to keep lovebirds in pairs, as a human is no substitute for another bird.
Lovebirds are about 13-17 cm in size, 40-60 grams in weight and characterized by a small, stocky build and a short, blunt tail. This puts them among the smallest parrots in the world. The beak is rather large for their overall size. Many lovebirds are green, although color mutations can feature many different colors. Some lovebird species, like Fischer's, black cheeked and the yellow collared lovebird, have a white ring around the eye. Its lifespan is 10 to 15 years.
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Species and habits
Image:Agapornis phylogeny.jpg Eight of the different species come from the mainland of Africa. The ninth species, Agapornis canus, originates from Madagascar. In the wild the different species are separated geographically. Lovebirds live in small flocks and eat mainly fruit, vegetables, some grasses and seed. Black-winged lovebirds also enjoy figs.
Only some of the lovebird species are sexually dimorphic. This includes the black-winged lovebird, the grey headed lovebird, and the black collared lovebird.
There are a total of 9 different species:
- Grey-headed Lovebird, Agapornis canus
- Red-faced Lovebird, Agapornis pullarius
- Black-winged Lovebird, Agapornis taranta
- Black-collared Lovebird, Agapornis swinderniana
- Peach-faced Lovebird, Agapornis roseicollis
- Fischer's Lovebird, Agapornis fischeri
- Yellow-collared Lovebird, Agapornis personatus
- Lilian's Lovebird, Agapornis lilianae
- Black-cheeked Lovebird, Agapornis nigrigeni
Agapornis as pets
Like with any other pet, it is essential that one make sure the birds that one is about to buy were bred in captivity, and not wild caught. Besides conservational and ethical reasons, wild caught animals are more likely to get sick, depresed, and to die.
Housing
Lovebirds are very active and require a roomy cage. They also require lots of toys and things to chew on and play with. Without a roomy cage, as well as many toys and things to play with, they may get bored, depressed and may even go as far as feather-plucking, which can be hard to stop. It is also a good idea to provide a bird bath tub, as they love to take baths almost every day. After taking a shower, many times they like to sun themselves in order to dry off. However, they should not be near any windows, or they may become sick.
Lovebirds are extremely social birds, and it is generally recommended that they be kept in pairs, for their emotional as well as physical well-being.
Food
Giving them a variety of food, such as pellets, fruits, seeds, and vegetables would be a good idea. As a regular food, pellets are recommended as the millet food generally sold in pet stores has too much fat on it and is not very balanced. Pellets especially made for birds are a good way to give them a well balanced diet.
Potential problems
Lovebirds are very vocal birds, making loud, high-pitched noises that can be a nuisance. They make noise all day, but especially at certain times of day.
As stated above, lovebirds are also very active, and love to chew things. When they are let out of their cage, it would be wise to watch them carefully, and protect any furniture or anything they could possibly chew on.
References
<references/>de:Unzertrennliche fa:مرغ عشق fr:Inséparable it:Agapornis nl:Dwergpapegaai pt:Agapornis es:agapornis