The name “lovebirds” isn’t just a cute name for a cute bird. These little birds form strong bonds with owners and mates and cannot thrive without frequent interaction. If you don’t have a lot of time to spend with your lovebird, you will need to purchase a mate to keep your feathered friend company.
Lovebirds come from Africa and Madagascar and have been a popular pet bird for more than a century. They are extremely social, intelligent, playful, and affectionate. Because they are extremely active pets, lovebirds need space in their cages to explore, climb, and fly. They also love to chew, and will need wood and toys to gnaw on.
The average lovebird is between five and seven inches in length. There are nine different sub-species in the lovebird family:
- Peach-Faced
- Red-Faced
- Madagascar
- Abyssinian
- Nyasa
- Swindern’s
- Masked
- Black-Cheeked
- Fischer’s
The Peace-Faced lovebird is the most common variety, with a yellow, green, and blue body and a splash of peach on the head. Lovebirds are actually members of the parrot family, though they do not generally talk or mimic.
Lovebirds in the wild eat grains, grass, seeds, and berries. Domestic lovebirds will thrive on a high-quality pellet diet, available from your local pet store. Supplement your lovebirds’ diet with fresh fruits, vegetables, and greens for extra vitamins and minerals.
Expect to keep your lovebird for life — the average lifespan of a lovebird is between fifteen and twenty years. Because lovebirds form such a strong bond with their owners, a separation can actually be a death sentence for the bird. If you won’t be able to make a fifteen or twenty year commitment to a pet, a lovebird may not be the right bird for you!
Take care in picking a companion for your lovebird; those that do not get along can become aggressive. Don’t house a lovebird with a bird of another species, or they too may fight. And be prepared for the possibility that your pair of lovebirds may breed! A pair of lovebirds may produce three clutches of eggs per year.