The rosy-faced lovebird (''Agapornis roseicollis''), also known as the rosy-collared or peach-faced lovebird, is a species of
lovebird
Lovebird is the common name for the genus ''Agapornis'', a small group of parrots in the Old World parrot family Psittaculidae. Of the nine species in the genus, all are native to the African continent, with the grey-headed lovebird being native ...
native to arid regions in southwestern
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
such as the
Namib Desert
The Namib ( ; pt, Namibe) is a coastal desert in Southern Africa. The name is of Khoekhoegowab origin and means "vast place". According to the broadest definition, the Namib stretches for more than along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Nami ...
. Loud and constant chirpers, 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. These birds are common in the pet industry.
Taxonomy
It was described by the French ornithologist
Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot
Louis Pierre Vieillot (10 May 1748, Yvetot – 24 August 1830, Sotteville-lès-Rouen) was a French ornithologist.
Vieillot is the author of the first scientific descriptions and Linnaean names of a number of birds, including species he collec ...
in 1818. It was originally named ''Psittacus roseicollis'' but later moved to the genus ''Agapornis'' with the other lovebirds.
Two
subspecies are recognised:
*''Agapornis roseicollis'',
(Vieillot, 1818)
:*''Agapornis roseicollis catumbella'',
B.P. Hall, 1952 -
Angola
, national_anthem = " Angola Avante"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capital = Luanda
, religion =
, religion_year = 2020
, religion_ref =
, coordina ...
:*''Agapornis roseicollis roseicollis'',
(Vieillot 1818) -
Namibia
Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
,
Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label= Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalaha ...
, and
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
Description
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.
[McLachlan G. R. & Liversidge, R. (1981) ''Roberts Birds of South Africa'', John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town. ] 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 that of the ''A. r. catumbella''.
Juvenile birds have a pale pink face and throat, a greenish fore crown and crown, and the beak has a brownish base.
[Forshaw (2006). plate 45.]
Distribution and habitat
The rosy-faced lovebird inhabits dry, open country in southwest Africa. Its range extends from southwest Angola across most of Namibia to the lower
Orange River
The Orange River (from Afrikaans/Dutch: ''Oranjerivier'') is a river in Southern Africa. It is the longest river in South Africa. With a total length of , the Orange River Basin extends from Lesotho into South Africa and Namibia to the north ...
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 metropolitan
Phoenix
Phoenix most often refers to:
* Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore
* Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States
Phoenix may also refer to:
Mythology
Greek mythological figures
* Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...
,
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
, 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.
Temperatures in Arizona regularly exceed 40°C and the feral lovebirds have been observed perching in large numbers on air-conditioner vents in order to remain cool.
Although they have been observed in the wild in
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...
, they are probably the result of escaped pets, and no reproduction has been recorded.
Status and conservation
Populations have been reduced in some areas by trapping for the pet trade. However, numbers may have increased in other areas 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
A least-concern species is a species that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as evaluated as not being a focus of species conservation because the specific species is still plentiful in the wild. T ...
by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of nat ...
(IUCN).
Behaviour in the wild
The rosy-faced lovebird has various harsh, shrieking calls.
Feeding
The diet consists mainly of seeds and berries. When food is plentiful, the birds may gather in flocks containing hundreds of individuals. They can sometimes be pests in agricultural areas, feeding on crops such as
millet.
Breeding
Lovebirds are monomorphic, meaning the male and
female of the species look alike. The
nest
A nest is a structure built for certain animals to hold eggs or young. Although nests are most closely associated with birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. They may be composed of organic materi ...
is built in a rock crevice or within a compartment of the large communal nests built by
sociable weaver
The sociable weaver (''Philetairus socius'') is a species of bird in the weaver family that is endemic to southern Africa. It is the only species in the monotypic genus ''Philetairus''. It is found in South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. but th ...
s. Man-made structures such as the roofs of houses may also be used. A total of 4-6
eggs
Humans and human ancestors have scavenged and eaten animal eggs for millions of years. Humans in Southeast Asia had domesticated chickens and harvested their eggs for food by 1,500 BCE. The most widely consumed eggs are those of fowl, especial ...
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.
[
]
Aviculture
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 due to their social requirements, they are best kept in pairs. They can be aggressive, and tend to bond towards an individual, either 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, and lovebirds should not be kept with smaller species of birds. Lovebirds require daily exercise.
File:Agapornis roseicollis (Wroclaw zoo)-2.JPG, Pair at nestbox
File:2006-05-21 Lovebird Pi-yan.jpg, A pet chick
File:Newly hatched Agapornis roseicollis in nest -4.jpg, An adult lutino in nestbox with eggs and chicks
File:RIP Taiko von Rosenhodet.jpg, Pet playing
File:Agapornis roseicollis -Arizona -garden bird feeder-8.jpg, Feral lovebirds eating seeds from a garden feeder in Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
, USA
File:Lovebird Humping.jpg, Lovebird playing with toy
File:Peach-faced lovebirds.jpg, Pair in captivity
Mutations
Rosy-faced lovebirds have the widest range of colour mutations of all the ''Agapornis'' genus. Generally speaking, these mutations fall into the genetic categories of dominant, codominant, recessive, and sex-linked recessive. While this seems fairly straightforward, it can quickly become confusing when a single specimen has multiple examples of these mutational traits.
Image:Agapornis roseicollis -Peach-faced Lovebird pet on perch.jpg, Wild type
Image:Agapornis roseicollis- Peach-faced Lovebird and yellow mutant.jpg, Left: Wild type
Right: Lutino mutation
Image:Skittles and Peach.jpg, Left: Wild type
Right: Pied Green mutation
Image:DenglerSW-Peach-faced-Lovebird-20051026-1280x960.jpg, Aqua Turquoise mutation
Image:Lovebird Agapornis Roseicollis Hybrid.jpg, Left: Pied mutation
Center: Hybrid of peach-face and a fischeri
Right: Orange-face mutation
Image:Whitefaced Blue Rosy-Faced Lovebird.jpg, Turquoise mutation
File:Agapornis roseicollis - Single Violet Opaline mutation.jpg, Green Single Violet factor Opaline mutation
File:Agapornis roseicolli tamed.jpg, They can be tamed
File:Opaline DD mo.jpg, Opaline Double Dark factor mutation
File:Lovebird .jpg, Lutino lovebirds with mutation where facial coloration covers entire head
File:Agapornis Roseicolli Aqua Arlequin.jpg, Aqua harlequin
File:White face violet African lovebird 01.jpg, Whiteface violet
Arts
Rosy-faced lovebirds' true love is the source of artistic inspiration.
References
Citations
Cited texts
*
General references
*
*
Rosy-faced Lovebird Bird Observations, Jan–Dec, 2003–2011
eBird.org
*
External links
Peach Faced Lovebird mutation information
Information on PFLB mutations
Range Expansion Data in Greater Phoenix, Arizona
African Love Bird Society
An international organization dedicated to the keeping, breeding, and showing of Love Birds.
* Rosy-faced lovebird
Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
{{Taxonbar, from=Q632213
rosy-faced lovebird
Birds of Southern Africa
rosy-faced lovebird
rosy-faced lovebird