Rosy-faced Lovebird

The rosy-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), also known as the rosy-collared or peach-faced lovebird, is a species of lovebird native to the Namibian savanna woodlands. 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 Pierre Vieillot 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

Agapornis roseicollis roseicollis, (Vieillot 1818) - Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa

Description

The rosy-faced lovebird is a fairly small bird, 17–18 cm (6.7–7.1 in) long, with an average wing length of 106 mm (4.2 in) and tail length of 44–52 mm (1.7–2.0 in). 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.

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 valley in northwest South Africa. It lives up to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) 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, Arizona, 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 (104 °F) and feral lovebirds have been observed perching in large numbers on air-conditioner vents in order to remain cool. Feral rosy-faced lovebird colonies can also be found on Maui and the Big Island in Hawaii. Although they have been observed in the wild in Puerto Rico, 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 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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 is built in a rock crevice or within a compartment of the large communal nests built by sociable weavers. Man-made structures such as the roofs of houses may also be used. A total of 4-6 eggs are laid between February and April. They are dull white and measure 23.5 by 17.3 mm (0.93 by 0.68 in). They are incubated for about 23 days. The young birds fledge after 43 days.

Self-recognition

Rosy-faced lovebirds are the first Psittacidae species to pass the mark test, which means they are able to self-recognize their image reflected in a mirror [9].

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.

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.

General references

"Species factsheet: Agapornis roseicollis". BirdLife International (2008). Retrieved 9 July 2008.

Burt, D.W.; White, S.J. (July 2007). "Avian Genomics in the 21st Century". Cytogenetic and Genome Research. 117 (1–4: Avian Genomics in Evolution, Agriculture and Health): 6–13. doi:10.1159/000103159. ISBN 978-3-8055-8338-1. PMID 17675839. S2CID 23593471.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)

Rosy-faced Lovebird Bird Observations, Jan–Dec, 2003–2011, eBird.org

Luft, Stefan (2007). Parrots of Africa (1st ed.). Norderstedt, Germany: Books On Demand. ISBN 978-3-8334-8445-2. OCLC 176931136.