By
Roland G. Dubuc
These small
parrots are popular with both companion bird
owners and Professional Aviculturists
The African Love Bird is
unusual in that some species are relatively new
to the world of Aviculture, while others are very
old. In fact, several species were not even
discovered until this century, yet others have
been kept by man for over four hundred years.
Love Birds, whose Latin or scientific name of the
genus is Agapornis, acquired their name because
of their fondness for sitting in pairs while
preening each other’s feathers. A few basic
facts to remember about Love Birds are, first,
they are small in size, second, they originate
from Africa and its adjacent islands and third,
all Love Birds are members of the parrot family.
This stout little parrot with its short rounded
tail, comprises a total of nine different
species. While some species are nearly as common
as budgies, others remain as rare as the most
elusive bird in the wild.
Dimorphics
In Love Birds, three of the nine species are
dimorphic. A species is dimorphic if the cock is
visibly different in color from the hen. The
following three love bird species, Madagascar,
Red-faced, and Abyssinian, fall into this
category.
Madagascar Love
Bird, or Agapornis
Cana, is also known as the Grayheaded Love
Bird. Cocks carry gray on the head, back of the
neck and breast; a green body that is darker on
the back and wings, black underwing coverts, a
whitish gray bill and pale gray feet. Hens differ
from the cocks by being completely green.
As might be expected, the Madagascar Love Bird is
from the island of Madagascar. It is also found
in smaller numbers on some of the neighboring
islands and there have been isolated sightings on
the mainland of South Africa. These birds have
been freely imported for well over a hundred
years. Today, because of export regulations out
of Madagascar, this species has become very rare.
One reason Madagascars are rare is that they are
not prolific breeders. They are usually bred in
pairs, which adds to the difficulty of finding
sufficient space. In the wild, they are found in
very large flocks, however, captive breeding has
not been generally successful when colony
breeding is attempted.
Red-faced Love
Bird, or Agapornis
Pullaria, is the second species of dimorphic
Love Bird. Cocks are colored birght green, and
are more yellowish on the front and underneath.
The face and crown are orange-red, the flights
and bend of the wing are green, and the shoulder
and underwing coverts are black. The bill is red,
and the feet are gray. Red-faced Love Bird hens
have more orange in the face, which is not quite
as bright red, while underwing coverts are green.
The Red-faced has perhaps the longest expanse of
territory of any of the love birds. It stretches
from the coastal regions of central Africa, all
the way to western Ethiopia. The Red-faced is
considered to be the first love bird imported
into Europe. The Duke of Bedford mentions that it
was used in portraits as early as the 16th
cetury.
Considering this long period in captivity, one
would assume the bird to be well established and
certainly, well understood. However, the converse
is true. There are few Red-faced Love Birds in
captivity, and they have been bred on only a few
occasions. Here in the United States, only a
handful of have had success with this species. In
the wild, Red-faced lovebirds nest in termite
sites, however, in captivity, they have been bred
using different methods. The key to breeding
success appears to be in keeping this species in
single pairs.
Abyssinian Love
Bird, or Agapornis
Taranta, is also known as the Blackwinged
Love Bird. The cock is viridian green, the
forehead, lores, and small ring of feathers
around the eye, are carmine red and the underwing
coverts are black. Hens have no red on the head
or eye area, their underwing coverts are green,
but variable to black with some green.
The abyssinian is a high altitude dweller from
Ethiopia. It was little known to aviculture until
this century and was first imported into the
trade in the early 1900’s. Abyssinians are
definitely a "single pair" breeder.
Monomorphics
The monomorphics include sexes which appear
visually alike. In Love Birds, it includes two
categories, birds with a periophtalmic ring (a
ring around the eye) and those without a ring.
Eye-Rings
Fischer’s
Lovebird, Agapornis
Fischeri, both cocks and hens appear alike.
Fischer’s Love Birds are green, being darker
on the wings and back, and lighter on the
underparts. The forehead is bright orange-red,
suffusing to dark olive, with cheeks and throat a
paler orange. The rump and upper tail coverts are
violet blue. The bill is coral red, the cere and
bare skin around the eye is white and the feet
are pale gray.
In the wild, Fischer’s lovebirds are found
on the inland plateaus of northern Tanzania. In
captivity, they breed freely and have been bred
in large colonies.
Nyasa Love Bird, Agapornis Lilianae, is also
called Lilian’s Love Bird. Nyasa’a are
green, paler on the underparts and darker on the
back and wings. The head is bright salmon to
orange, brighter on the forehead, and paler on
the cheeks, throat and upper breast. The core and
ring around the eye are bare white skin. The bill
is red, and the feet are gray.
The Nyasa is another Love Bird relatively new to
aviculture. It was not described until the late
1890’s by Miss Lilian Sclater, for whom it
was named. However, it was not until the
1920’s that it was imported. In the wild,
Nyasas are gregarious, and found in groups of
twenty to one hundred birds. In captivity, they
breed freely in colonies, as well as in cages.
They are the rarest eye-ring in captivity.
Black-cheeked Love
Bird, Agapornis
Nigrigenis, are green, being slightly darker
than the Nyasa, and lighter green on the
underparts and rump. The head appears
brownish-black, the throat salmon, the back of
the head is yellowish-olive and the wings are
darker green. The cere and the ring around the
eye are bare white skin. The bill is bright red
and the feet are gray.
The Black-cheeked is fond in the most restrictive
areas. It is located in two river valleys, one in
southwest Zambia and the other in the Victoria
Falls area of Zimbabwe. The Black-cheeked Love
Bird was similarly not described until the early
1900’s and was imported shortly thereafter.
The birds are good breeders, and can be bred in
colonies.
Masked Love Bird, Agapornis Personata, has a
generally green plumage, with the head, including
the lores and cheeks, brown to sooty black. A
yellow collar, about half an inch wide at its
narrowest point on the back of the neck, is
widest on the breast. The cere, and bare skin
area around the eye, is white. The bill is red,
and the feet are blackish-gray.
The Masked Love Bird is foind on inland plateaus
in northeastern Tanzania. Discovered in the late
1800’s, they were not imported until the
1920’s. Masked Love Birds breed freely in
colonies. The blue mutation occured in the wild,
and was imported soon after its introduction.
Non-Eye-Rings
Peachfaced
Love Bird, Agapornis
Roseicollis, has an overall bright,
almond-green plumage, which is yellow on the
underside, with a brilliant blue rump. The
frontal band is a deep rose-red, and the lores,
sides of the head, and throat, are a paler
rose-red. The bill is horn colored and greenish
toward the tip. The feet are gray.
The Peachfaced is found in the dry country of
South Angola. It was first found in the late
1700’s but was confused at that time with
the Red-faced Love Bird. In the wild, birds are
usually found in groups of ten. In captivity, the
are most prolific, to the point of domesticity.
Black-collared
Love Bird, Agapornis
Swinderniana, is also known as
Swindern’s Love Bird. The Swindern’s
must be discussed differently from other Love
Birds since it also includes a distinct and
separate sub-species.
In Agapornis Swinderniana, the main body
color is dusky green, lighter on the cheeks and
underparts, with a yellow wash on the throat. A
narrow black collar on the nape, with a chrome
yellow area below, merges into the green of the
back. The lower back, rump, and upper tail
coverts, are brilliant blue; the underwing
coverts are green. The central tail feathers are
green, occasionally with a red-orange spot;
lateral tail feathers are bright red towards the
base, with a black bar and green tips. The iris
of the eye is golden-yellow. The bill is
blackish-horn and the feet are dark gray. It is a
dense forest dweller, found in Liberia and is
considered to be rare in the wild.
In Agapornis Swinderniana Zenkeri, the
yellow area below the nuchal collar is extended
and is colored orange. It is also slightly
brighter green and slightly larger in size than
A.s. swinderniana. A.s. zenkeri is found in the
Cameroons, east of the central part of Zaire.
This particular subspecies was kept alive in
Africa by a missionary named Father Hutsebour. He
was able to keep these birds alive on a diet of
sycamore figs. However, when the birds were
removed from this diet, they would die within
three days. They have never been successfully
exported.
Selection
Once introduced to Agapornis, the aviculturist
frequently decides to add this lively little
hookbill to his or her collection of birds. While
it tends to be hardy, its needs differ from those
of the softbill and even other hookbill birds.
The best chance of selecting a perfect bird is to
acquire a young, Peachfaced Love Bird. The
Peachfaced is one of the easiest love birds to
keep. Its engaging personality and lively manner
will give you much entertainment. Choose a young
bird, one with light markings across the brow,
and if possible, dark color at the base of the
beak. A young bird adjusts more easily to you,
your routine, and the diet you provide. The
younger the bird, the easier it is to tame and
train.
Health
The Love Bird’s health can be determined
partly by observation, and partly by the
seller’s reputation. the bird should be
alert, lively, sleek-feathered and plump. Check
both the eyes and the bird’s vent; the eyes
should be clear, and the feathers around the vent
should be clean. Avoid the "tame" bird
huddling on a perch with its feathers fluffed
out, eyes closed, and head drooping or tucked
under a wing. Nature’s way is to hide
weakness. By the time a bird displays signs of
illness, it is often too ill to be helped.
To avoid introducing disease into you collection,
any newly acquired bird should be quarantined in
a separate part of the house, away from other
birds, for a minimum of thirty days.
If your bird should show signs of illness, try to
keep it warm and quiet in a hospital cage. Feed
it honey water, and make its favorite foods and
seeds easily available. Try to feed it a warm
gruel. Ask the advice of an avian veterinarian,
or an experienced aviculturist. Keep a supply of
pet antibiotics on hand, and learn how to
administer them before a health problem arises.
Sexing
Whether you choose one Love Bird for a pet, or a
pair, you will want to determine the sex of the
bird. Generally, the hen has a broader head,
shoulders, and pelvic span than does the cock.
The first two characteristics can be seen, the
third, felt.
to feel the pelvic area, hold the bird with its
back against your palm, with your thumb and
little finger capturing the wings against the
body. The head will protrude between your second
and third fingers. This leaves the belly area
clear for you to insert your finger between the
bird’s legs. You should be able to feel two
points of bone just above the tail. If the two
points are extremely close together, the bird may
be a male. If you can almost insert your little
finger between the points, it may be a female.
You have a 50% chance of being right!
Housing
Choice of housing ranges from a parakeet cage to
an outdoor aviary. Your purpose for acquiring the
Love Bird or birds will determine your choice. A
Large parakeet cage should be roomy enough for
one bird, since your pet will be free part of
each day. For breeding purposes, the double cage
(36"x15"x24" high) will do for a
pair. The habit of chewing should be considered
if you build your own cage. Wood parts should be
wire covered, or else plan on replacing the as
the bird destroys them.
The Love Bird can be an escape artist. My first
Peachfaced was. He would slip head and shoulders
between two bars, expel his breath, and wriggle
forward a little. Then he drew a deep breath and
popped through the bars like a cork. He popped
out at will, destroying everything he got his
beak into.
Because of his chewing habit, the love bird must
be seperated from all other types of birds. He is
capable of maiming or killing any bird smaller
than himself. Never house them with finches,
canaries, parakeets, or even cockatiels, if you
value your other birds.
In addition to a cage, you need hoppers for seed,
perches, and a watering device. Size and type of
hoppers are determined by the size of the cage.
Provide various perch widths for the bird to
exercise his feet. Hamster water tubes provide
closed systems which controls evaporation, hang
outside the cage for easy servicing, and do not
allow the birds to contaminate the water.
However, the bird must learn to drink from the
tube, so also provide bowls of water at first.
The tube must be checked frequently, as a sticky
valve will create a vacuum, withholding water
from the bird. A good type of gravity flow open
drinker resembles a Mason jar turned upside down
and screwed into a water dispenser.
Diet
Once your bird has settled in its new home, feed
your bird a good basic seed mix of finch mix,
parakeet mix, and wild bird seed. If you provide
fresh, insecticide-free greens, shredded carrot,
and fresh corn kernels, you should not need to
give vitamins, although vitamin supplements will
not harm the bird. High protien dry baby food is
a good supplement. Cuttlebone and mineral block
should always be available. Millet spray is
always a treat. Whatever diet you chose should be
maintained, as the bird’s digestive system
will adjust to it.
Breeding
The time may come when you and nature decide
it’s time for your Love Birds to breed. If
possible, provide a group opportunity for birds
to choose their own mates. One male, plus one
female, does not necessarily equal a breeding
pair.
In the autumn, provide a nest box measuring
6"x 6"x10", nesting materials,
some privacy, and stand back. The birds attack
the nesting materials, shredding them into strips
softened by chewing or soaking in water.
Materials to provide include: palm fronds,
newspaper, dried grasses and straw. Whatever you
use should be fibrous and uncontaminated by
insecticides or pesticides. The Love Birds will
stuff the box with these materials, forming a
tunnel through it to a cave-like opening.
The hen typically lays 4 to 6 eggs and incubates
the eggs for 21-24 days. If your pair lays 8 or
more eggs, and incubates too long,
congratulations, you have paired up two hens! In
a true pair, the cock helps to incubate, bu
tspends much of his time guarding the nest box
entrance.
When the eggs hatch, both parents feed the young.
Provide foods that are easy for the parents to
digest, such as dry high-protien baby cereal, oat
groats, lukewarm oatmeal, or nestling food. The
babies fledge in five to six weeks and the
parents continue to care for the young until they
are weaned two weeks later.
If your birds allow the eggs to cool, or the
young to die, be understanding. Parenthood is a
shock to the bird with no prior experience to
draw upon. By the second or third clutch, they
should be able to care for their young. While
love birds will, as a rule, rest themselves,
limit pairs to two, possibly three clutches of
young per year. Parenthood is hard on a bird.
Recommendations
This article only touches on the basics of
selecting and caring for Love Birds. There are
more complete publications available from your
local pet store or library. One of the best ways
to become more knowledgeable, however, is to join
a specialty bird club such as the African Love
Bird Society, an International society which
devotes itself to the propogationand care of
Agapornis. Members receive a bi-monthly journal.
Another excellent source of information is any
bird club in your area. Not only will you meet
other bird owners, but you will have a wealth of
information in the other members. You will never
meet a friendlier, more helpful group then the
members of a bird club. They have faced the same
experiences as you, and they’re eager to
share what they’ve learned.
|
