Just as their name suggests, the lovebirds have often been used to symbolize undying devotion. During the valentine season, the humans express their love through greeting cards, chocolate, and a canopy of stuffed animals. In the animal world through relationships do not fit with conventional human ideas of love. The lovebirds are beautiful, intelligent and they have been among the most loved type of birds of African Parrots for more than 100 years. There are, however, a lot of myths about these lovebirds, their behavior, and what it takes to keep them as pets. If you have an interest in understanding what these lovebirds are all about, you should read this article to get some basic facts about these feisty little birds.
Lovebirds Don’t talk.
Despite the fact that they are a type of parrot and they have the ability to mimic human speech, the lovebirds are not one of the bird’s species that can be considered as talking birds. This is mainly because it is in rare instances they decide to speak, and if they choose to mimic a sound, more often than not, they repeat some basic noises such as whistles or some other sounds made in the house such as doorbells and microwave sound. It is not clearly known why some of the lovebirds are more prone to mimicking speech than others, but it is widely believed that those who learn to talk are taught it at a young age.
There are several types of lovebirds
The lovebirds are of different types. There are nine separate subspecies of these little parrots, and each has its unique traits and features. These subspecies include the Black-cheeked lovebirds, masked lovebirds, Nyadsa lovebirds, Madagascar lovebirds, weindern lovebirds, Fischer’s lovebirds, red-faced lovebirds, Abyssinian lovebirds, and peach-faced lovebirds. The most popular among all these subspecies is the peach-faced, and it can be identified by the rainbow of yellow, green, and blue on their bodies. The different types of lovebirds are different in terms of looks and temperament averagely, but they all will live for up to 20 years in captivity under proper care.
Lovebirds do not thrive best when kept in pairs
It is a common myth that you should never own a lobe lovebird because if you do not keep them in pairs, they will end up dying of depression. It is true that these are extremely social birds that do best on interaction and must be socially stimulated in many cases; it is good for the birds’ owners to keep single lovebirds. This is because the lovebirds breed readily, and some of the owners may not be ready to take care of a family of parrots. It is also important to note that when the lovebirds are kept in pairs, they tend to bond with each other, and they end up shutting human interaction. Those owners who would like their lovebirds to be affectionate and open to being handled have adopted keeping them alone and investing so much of their time playing and socializing with them so that their needs are met.
Lovebirds are the smallest species of Parrots
The lovebirds are among the smallest species of the parrot family. ON average majority of the lovebirds fall between 5 and 7 inches in length by the time they reach maturity when they are measured from the beak all the way to the tailfeathers. Their small size has contributed to pushing their popularity among those who reside in apartments and other small spaces. The majority of these bird loves have found it easiest to keep a smaller bird in the house compared to keeping large birds such as the macaws and cockatoos.
Lovebirds are very active
Just like all other parrots, the lovebird is a super active bird that requires a little exercise on a regular basis to always stay in top physical condition. As an aspiring bird owner who is seeking to keep the lovebird as a pet, you should be willing to offer your pet a bird-safe place outside its cage to play for several hours each day. This will give your pet an opportunity to exercise all the muscle groups that it needs to stay healthy, as well as provide important mental stimulation that these highly intelligent birds require.
Lovebirds sit next to each other
Just as the name suggests, these birds have a very strong bond towards each other, and therefore they love sitting next to their mate, and you will never see them sitting next to another bird. Unlike other animals, the lovebird mate once in its entire life. Once one of the mated pairs dies, the remaining bird will never mate again in their lives.
Lovebirds can find dangers all over an average home
Other animals within the compound, such as cats and dogs, might see the lovebirds in the compound and see them as potential prey and ends up attacking them. These birds might also chew or scratch at exposed wiring, which could end up causing so much harm or even death as a result of electrocution. They are also known to mainly drowning in swimming pools or toilet bowls. The lovebird also gets poisoned from ingesting some household chemicals or breathing some harmful fumes.
Lovebirds do not usually need to have their nails trimmed
The nails of the lovebirds do not need to be trimmed to remain in a healthy length since they naturally wear away from the birds’ daily activities. That said, this does not apply to those inactive birds who need their nails to be trimmed regularly since they do not involve themselves in activities for the nails to tear away. As you trim the nails of your lovebirds, you need to be very careful since trimming them to a very short size could lead to bleeding and sometimes infections.
Lovebirds are bred in captivity today
Breeding the lovebirds in captivity has helped to avoid the problems of catching them in the wild, which separated stem from their flock. It also gives the customer who wants lovebirds as their pet to have more options since the breeders can produce specimens with great variety than in the wild.
Lovebirds MAY become very aggressive during mating season
This mainly occurs in captivity due to the little space for flying and less access to food as compared to the wild. With the aggressiveness, the lovebirds sometimes kill the other birds within their space during the mating season in order to eliminate any competition. In some instances, they even kill their mates after finishing to lay eggs in around 3 weeks.
They build nests before mating
The lovebirds will mate as many times as possible to ensure that the females lay many as viable eggs as possible. It normally takes the female 3 to 5 days after mating to start laying eggs. Before laying them, she spends some time sitting on the nest only to lay one egg in a day until she lays a complete clutch. The complete clutch of the lovebird contains 4 to 6 eggs.
Lovebirds MAY BE picky eater in captivity
The basic diet of these birds includes a mix of grains, seeds, and nuts, including either fresh or dried fruits and vegetables. If you want your lovebirds to do their best, it is recommended that you add another 30 percent of organic feeding pellets into the mix.
Lovebirds originate from Africa
The lovebirds originate from the forests of savannas of sub-Saharan African and Madagascar. The fossils of the ancient lovebirds have been found in South Africa, and they dated as far as 1.9 million years ago.
Lovebirds live in Holes
The lovebirds dwell in a cavity that makes their homes in holes in trees, rocks, or shrubs in the wild. Some species prefer to nest in go up while others choose to pair off and build their own nest away from the others. I the urban area, there is a limited option, and therefore, they may rely on something like a tree or a crevice in a building. In Arizona, they make their homes in cactus.
Different species of lovebirds build their nest in different ways
Fisher lovebirds carry single strips of tree bark in their beak, while the peach-faced lovebirds hide their bark in feathers. The researchers believe that this more complex behavior of the peach-faced is an ancestral trait, and they have used this facet of lovebirds to demonstrate the intersection of evolved and learned behavior.
Some lovebirds are androgynous
In the three species of the lovebird, both the males and females have distinguishing features that can help you to tell the difference. For instance, in the black-winged lovebirds, the males have a crown that is made of red feathers while the females have an overall green plumage. However, the other species do not have the same degree of sexual dimorphism, making it difficult to differentiate between a male and female by just looking at them. In some species, the males are slightly bigger than females, but DNA is needed to get conclusive results.
Lovebirds don’t LIKE chocolate
It might look like common sense, but it is important to save your chocolate and give it to deserving humans. The lovebirds live on a balanced diet that comprises of seeds, fruits, berries, and sometimes those in the wild feed on insect larva. In Africa, the lovebirds are also referred to as crafty crop pests as they feed on millet and maize farms.
Lovebirds can carry some zoonotic diseases that infect humans
Some research shows that lovebirds are capable of carrying some bacteria that are capable of infecting humans, but they only pick up the bacteria spores if they come into contact with pigeon feces. Other reports find evidence of a parasite called Encephalitozoon hellem in fishers, peach-faced, and masked lovebirds. The researchers say that the parasites can spread to humans with weak immune systems, such as those suffering from HIV/ AIDS.
The Lovebirds somehow inspired valentine’s day
It is believed there is a connection between the religious celebration of Saint Valentine Day and romantic love. There is a poem by one Geoffrey Chaucer where he features two bird which exhibits all the markings of human love.
Some Lovebirds might be endangered in the future
The black-cheeked are mainly found in Zambia and some parts of Zimbabwe and Botswana. This species of lovebirds have already been listed among the vulnerable species by the IUCN Red Listing of Threatened Species. The main cause is the drought which is believed to be a result of long-term climatic change, which is drying up the sources of water that these birds rely on. The latest t survey places their population at approximately 10000 in total.
Lovebirds’ habitat
The lovebirds have different types of habitats. They may be found inhabiting the woodlands, forests, savanna, and sometimes in the desert edges. They may even to living close to humans, such as in cities, farms, and parks.
How lovebirds Reproduce
Just as the name suggests, the lovebirds have their behaviors that they display during the courtship, and it is something to admire. The female lovebird tries to impress the female by feeding her as the breeding season comes close. The female then builds the nest, and as soon as the mating starts, the eggs are laid in less than 5 days. Their eggs tales 23 days to hatch. In captivity, breeding is somehow different from the wild since they can breed during any time of the year, but in the wild, they have a specific season.
The cuteness of the lovebirds
The lovebirds are adorable, and they end up forming a formidable bond with people in captivity. The cuteness is not limited to the physical appearance but also the ability to spend some quality time with their owners and have fun mates them so adorable. Also, watching these birds perched on tree tepas as they sing inspires the hopeless romantic in most people.
How lovebirds communicate
The lovebirds are extremely expressive birds who communicate with humans or other birds in different shows such as whistles, growls, and purrs. They also express their emotions using body language. Whenever the lovebirds are annoyed and upset, they growl, and whenever they are happy, they express it by purr. They also sing and whistle as they show their cheerful mood. If they have experienced good interaction with the humans from a young age, they may also speak.
How fast can they fly?
Just like any other parrots, the lovebirds are adept fliers. They fly at approximately 64.4 to 80. 5 km per hour.
What lovebirds look like
You can easily mistake a lovebird for a popular video game,” World of Warcraft.” However, these birds are completely different in realize compared to what is displayed in the game. They have an appearance that resembles that of a small green parrot. They are generally green in color and are about 10 cm in length. They have a big hooked upper beak and a short tail. Some of the species have a distinct white eye-ring.
Lovebirds look young throughout
It is difficult to tell the exact age of a lovebird by just observing them. A net hatchling has a dark bar on the beak, and this disappears after the first 3 months, and this makes it difficult for anyone to guess the age from that point. This is the reason why some owners prefer placing a band on each bird, indicating their date hatching.
Lovebirds’ behaviors
These birds live in groups known as the flocks. These flocks preen each other and vocalize in the morning before moving off as a group to forage. Different species have different food sources as some forage on the ground while others search for fruits on the trees. Sometimes when the food is in plenty, they will concentrate on one area.
Tag of Authenticity
If you are buying an adult bird, look for the tag or a closed ring. This is usually placed on imported birds so that it can, among other birds. It is also another sign to show that the breeder is accredited and belongs to the breeding association. If the bird does not have a sig tag, it means it might have been caught or imported illegally. You should also be careful from being sold a rare, expensive bred that belongs to the protected species.
How to identify a healthy bird
The first thing when trying to determine whether the bird is t healthy or not is looking at the feathers. They should be shiny and neatly lined up. The beak should be even, and poor diet or living conditions can lead to poor growth. You should also look out for uneven breathing or half-open eyes. You should also ensure the area around its tail feathers is clean. Ensure the feathers are dry without any droppings, and there should not be any breast protruding bones.
Would lovebirds make a great pet?
The lovebirds are social birds that ate so affectionate towards humans. While in captivity, these birds might develop some behavior changes. Some might develop domineering behavior with other pets or sometimes even humans. SO, if you have some other pets such as cats and dogs, it is important you keep this in mind. If you decide to keep a lovebird as a home pet, ensure you have a space for a cage, a lovebird nest box, and some toys to play with. They need a spacious cage to fly around without feeling restricted fully.
The lovebirds love to shred papers, and therefore if you own one, you should give them a dye-free paper to chew and nibble on. They love to play with toys, like swings, shiny objects, mirrors, and wooden gnaws. You can also entertain them by yourself by giving these to play with.
Having a lovebird pet
A lovebird loves a constant companion, and therefore it is advisable to get them in pairs so that they can not feel lonely and end up stressed. In the United States, the average cost of one lovebird is between 40 to 130 dollars. The bird is somehow inexpensive, and therefore it should not be difficult for anyone to own one. However, you should do proper and wide research and invest a lot of time yet know what it takes to nature and train a lovebird while in captivity. It is not all species of lovebirds are good for the pet, and you should be kept so as not to buy such birds. Others are aggressive towards other birds, especially if they are small in size, and you should identify such species to avoid the mistake of putting them together, and they might kill others.
Another point when you are buying perches for the lovebirds ensure you use the wooden ones as much as possible to prevent them from chewing. To keep their nails trimmed, you should provide another perch that is made of cement. This might seem like a lot for a bird, especially to beginners, but it is worth it since, in return, you will receive a lot of affection from your pet.
Conclusion
The lovebirds are amazing and very social birds, and therefore they are the ideal bird that will show companionship and affection to any other bird. They have amazing features, and they are worth keeping as long as you have the time and what it takes to keep them.
