Si Cantik Lovebird: Lovebird Species

The name "Love Bird " refers to the nine species of the genus "Agapornis". Eight of these species originate on the African continent, with the ninth coming from the island of Madagascar.

Three species of Love Bird, the Peachfaced, Masked, and Fischer's, are relatively common in captivity. The remaining species are either uncommon, or completely unknown in aviculture, and are collectively referred to as "the rares."

The Common Species

Peachfaced Love Bird
(Agapornis roseicollis)
by Doug Bedwell

Peachfaced Love Birds are the most common Love Bird species in captivity. They usually breed freely, and are an excellent species for beginning and expert breeders alike. A great many color mutations have been established, with many new ones appearing only in the last few years. I am currently aware of at least seventeen distinct Peachfaced mutations, allowing well over 100,000 possible color combinations. Of all captive bred parrots, perhaps only the Budgerigar comes in a wider array of colors. Peachfaced originate in Southwestern Africa in and around Namibia and Angola. As best I am aware, they are fairly common and secure in their natural range. I have not seen any references to them being endangered in the wild. Peachfaced are the largest species of Love Bird, typically weighing in at from 50-60 grams. Abyssinian Love Birds (a. taranta) may be slightly longer than Peachies, but Abbies are quite slender, and Peachfaced will typically outweigh them by several grams. The normally colored Peachfaced shows a beautiful array of colors. The wings and back are dark green, with a lighter green color on the lower breast. The primary flight feathers have dark green on the leading edge, darkening to black near the wingtip, with the trailing edge of the primaries mostly black. The face is a bright red/orange color which gives these birds their name. The rump is an irridescent tourquoise blue, and the beak is horn colored.

There is one Peachfaced subspecies, "agapornis roseicollis catumbella", which is slightly smaller and more intensely colored than the nominate species. A few of these birds may be held in European collections, though this point is currently a matter of considerable debate and speculation. It is almost certain that no Catumbella are currently present in the United States.

Peachfaced have lively, inquisitive personalities, and handfed babies that are properly socialized can make delightful pets. Contrary to the popular myth, it is not necessary to keep Love Birds as pairs. In fact, single birds often make better pets, since in the absence of another bird they often become more closely bonded to their human companion.
Left: Blue peachfaced Love Bird.

Masked Love Bird
(Agapornis personata)

Green masked Love Bird (wild-type)

Blue masked (dark factor), sometimes called cobalt

Fischer's Lovebird
(Agapornis fischeri)

Two green Fischer's and their albino baby

Blue Fischer's

The Rares

Nyasa Love Bird
(Agapornis lillianae)

Green Nyasa Love Bird

Lutino and blue Nyasa Love Birds

Black-cheeked Lovebird
(Agapornis nigrigenis)

A young black-cheeked lovebird in flight

Blue black-cheeked lovebirds

Madagascar Love Bird (Agapornis cana)
by Doug Bedwell

Madagascar Love Birds are the only Love Bird species which does not originate on the African continent. Maddies come, not surprisingly, from the island of Madagascar, which lies off of Africa's Southeastern coast.

Maddies are the smallest species of Love Bird, typically weighing in at only 30-35 grams. They are delicate and nervous, and in some ways they seem more like finches than hookbills. Their beaks are small, even in relation to their body size, and they prefer finch and canary seed over the sunflower/safflower mixes that most other Love Birds relish.

Madagascars are strong fliers, and when open, their wings seem larger in relation to their bodies than those of the Peachfaced. Maddies can develop good speed quite quickly and effortlessly, and turn smoothly, though they are not as nimble in the air as the Peachies. I have not, for example, seen a Madagascar Love Bird hover in one place, as the Peachfaced often will.

Maddies are one of the few species of Love Bird that are sexually dimorphic. Hens are entirely green and black, with dark green on the back and wings, bright green rump and paler green breast. The flights are dark green on the leading edge, fading to black on the trailing edge. The males are similarly colored, except that their entire head and upper breast are a soft pale grey. For this reason, maddies are sometimes referred to by the name "grey-headed Love Bird".

Maddies are quite rare in captivity, with only a very few breeders having successfully reproduced more than one or two generations. This, and the fact that even hand-fed birds remain too shy and nervous to make good pets, are clear reasons for any captive madagascars to be given a chance to breed, rather than being kept as pets. Though the future of this species in captivity seems hopeful, the breeding successes and failures of the next few years may very well decide the fate of these birds for future generations of aviculturists.

Above Photo: Female on left; male on right

Abyssinian Lovebird
(Agapornis taranta)

One of the "rares," this is the largest of the Agapornis species and is generally not seen as a pet. This species is dimorphic, meaning the male and female can be identified visually.