Peach-faced Lovebird

Looks how to spot one

Feathered; small, stocky parrot with a short tail

The wild-type bird is mostly bright green, with a rosy-pink face and throat that deepens to red on the forehead and above the eye, and a vivid blue rump. The short tail is green with blue tips and has black and red markings hidden near the base. The bill is horn-coloured, the eyes dark brown and the feet grey. Males and females look almost alike, though females can be a touch duller; youngsters show a paler pink face.321

Personality what they are like

A lively, confident little parrot with a big personality for its size. Peach-faced lovebirds are nosy and playful, love to chew and to hide in cosy spots, and keep up a steady stream of chatter. They are rarely strong talkers but make pleasant sounds, getting loudest around dawn and dusk. They can be assertive and will defend their space, so regular gentle handling helps keep a single pet tame. A bonded pair often focuses mainly on each other.645

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Very active. Plan for daily time out of the cage to fly and explore under supervision, plus a steady supply of toys to shred and climb on so the bird stays busy.36

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Offer a shallow dish of water for bathing, as these birds like to bathe often. Chewable toys help keep the beak in shape; nails and wings can be trimmed by an avian vet when needed. Daily gentle handling keeps a single bird tame.345

Home where they are happiest

Get the largest cage you can fit. VCA suggests at least 90 cm long x 60 cm wide x 60 cm tall; the World Parrot Trust suggests an enclosure or aviary of at least 1.2 m. Bar spacing of about 0.95-1.1 cm suits this size of bird. Provide several natural perches of different thicknesses and sturdy chew-safe toys.4156

Food basics what goes in the bowl

In the wild they eat mostly seeds from grasses and trees such as acacia and albizia, along with buds, flowers and berries. As pets, a formulated diet (pellets) should form the base, topped up with small seeds, leafy greens, vegetables and fruit such as apple, pear and orange. Seed on its own is not a complete diet. Fresh water is important, as wild birds drink several times a day.1265

Company who they like around

Highly social flock birds that live in groups of about 5-20 in the wild. They are often kept in pairs, which bond tightly with each other. A single bird can be a very affectionate pet but needs lots of daily attention from its people plus toys to keep it occupied.236

The story where it all began

Vieillot gave the species its scientific name in 1818, first placing it in the broad parrot genus Psittacus before it was moved to Agapornis, the lovebird genus. In the wild it ranges over the dry south-west of Africa, where it often nests inside the huge communal nests built by sociable weavers, and has spread naturally in some areas such as around Lake Ngami thanks to man-made water points and structures. The bird has been kept in captivity since 1869, and because it is small, hardy and breeds readily it became the most widely kept lovebird. Breeders have developed the widest range of colour mutations of any lovebird, with lutino and Dutch blue among the favourites. Escaped pets have founded thriving free-living flocks in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, and on Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii.32174

Recognised by the official bits

Taxonomy

First described by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1818 as Psittacus roseicollis, later placed in the genus Agapornis (family Psittaculidae).3

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognised: the nominate A. r. roseicollis and A. r. catumbella of Benguela, Angola, which shows deeper red on the forecrown and cheeks.1

IUCN Red List

Least Concern.1

Aviculture

Described by VCA Animal Hospitals as the largest and most commonly kept of the nine lovebird species; the World Parrot Trust lists it as common in captivity.4