Peach-faced Lovebird Information
Source(wikipedia)
The Rosy-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), also known as the Rosy-collared or Peach-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. Plumage is identical in males and females. 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 substantial distances back to make a nest. They are common in the pet industry, although lovebirds are often not hand-raised.
Contents [show]
Taxonomy [edit]
It was described by the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1818. It was originally named Psittacus roseicollis but later moved to the genus Agapornis with the other lovebirds.
Two subspecies are recognised:[2]
Agapornis roseicollis, (Vieillot, 1818)
Agapornis roseicollis catumbella, B.P. Hall, 1952 - Angola[3]
Agapornis roseicollis roseicollis, (Vieillot 1818) - Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa[3]
Description [edit]
A pet chick
The Rosy-faced Lovebird is a fairly small bird, 17–18 cm long with an average wing length of 106 mm and tail length of 44–52 mm.[4] Wild birds are mostly green with a blue rump. The face and throat are pink, darkest on the forehead and above the eye. The bill is horn coloured, the iris is brown and the legs and feet are grey. The pink of the A. r. roseicollis is lighter than of the A. r. catumbella.[3] Juvenile birds have a pale pink face and throat, a greenish fore crown and crown, and the beak has a brownish base.[3]
Distribution and habitat [edit]
It inhabits dry, open country in southwest Africa. Its range extends from southwest Angola across most of Namibia to the lower Orange River valley in northwest South Africa. It lives up to 1,600 metres above sea-level in broad-leaved woodland, semi-desert, and mountainous areas. It is dependent on the presence of water sources and gathers around pools to drink.
Escapes from captivity are frequent in many parts of the world and feral birds dwell in the Phoenix metro area of Arizona where they live in a variety of habitats, both urban and rural. Some dwell in Cacti and others have been known to frequent feeders in decent sized flocks.[5]
Status and conservation [edit]
Populations have been reduced in some areas by trapping for the pet trade. However numbers may have increased in other parts due to human creation of new water sources and the building of artificial structures which provide new nesting sites. Because of this the species is classed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).[1]
Behaviour in the wild [edit]
In Namibia
The Rosy-faced Lovebird has various harsh, shrieking calls.
Feeding [edit]
The diet mainly consists of seeds and berries. When food is plentiful, it may gather in flocks containing hundreds of birds. It can sometimes be a pest in agricultural areas feeding on crops such as millet.
Breeding [edit]
Feral lovebirds eating seeds from a garden feeder in Arizona, USA
Finding a pair of these birds for breeding is not easy because their sex is not easily determined. The sex can be determined by the distance between the pelvis bones which in males measures 1–3 mm while measuring 6–8 mm in females.[6] The nest is built in a rock crevice or within a compartment of the large communal nests built by Sociable Weavers. Man-made structures such as the roofs of houses may also be used. 4-6 eggs are laid between February and April. They are dull white and measure 23.5 mm by 17.3 mm. They are incubated for about 23 days. The young birds fledge after 43 days.[4]
Aviculture [edit]
Pair at nestbox
Rosy-faced lovebirds are one of the more common parrots kept in captivity, because of their small size and ease of care and breeding. The birds are kept alone or in pairs, although they're often aggressive, and tend to bond towards an individual, even it's a human or avian, and may not get on well with other people or pets. Two lovebirds may not always get along, and may have to be separated.
An adult lutino in nestbox with eggs and chicks
Pet playing
Mutations [edit]
Main article: Rosy-faced Lovebird colour genetics
Rosy-faced Lovebirds have the widest range of colour mutations of all the Agapornis species. Generally speaking, these mutations fall into the genetic categories of dominant, codominant, recessive, and X-linked recessive. While this seems fairly straightforward, it can quickly become confusing when a single specimen has multiple examples of these mutational traits.
Colour varieties in aviculture
Wild type
Left: Wild type
Right: Lutino mutation
Left: Wild type
Right: Pied Green mutation
Aqua Turquoise mutation
Left: Pied Mutation
Center: Hybrid of peach-face and a fischeri
Right: Orange-face mutation
Turquoise mutation
Green Single Violet factor Opaline mutation
Red-suffusion Lovebird as a pet
They can be tamed
Opaline Double Dark factor mutation
References [edit]
^ a b BirdLife International (2012). "Agapornis roseicollis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
^ "Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Psittaciformes (Version 9.004)". www.zoonomen.net. 2008-07-05.
^ a b c d Forshaw (2006). plate 45.
^ a b McLachlan G. R. & Liversidge, R. (1981) Roberts Birds of South Africa, John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town. ISBN 0-620-03118-2
^ Clark, Greg. "Peach-faced Lovebird Range Expansion Data in Greater Phoenix, Arizona Area". Retrieved 2011-02-27.
^ "Peach Faced Lovebird info". parrot-bird.com. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
"Species factsheet: Agapornis roseicollis". BirdLife International (2008). Retrieved 9 July 2008.
Luft, Stefan|Luft, Stefan (2007): Parrots of Africa (1st edition). Halberstadt, Germany. ISBN 978-3-8334-8445-2
eBird.org
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