HABITAT AND RANGE:
The Peach-Faced Lovebird can be found in
the southwestern portion of Africa. They
inhabit the northwest corner of South
Africa, through the western half of
Namibia and into the southwest corner of
Angola. They live in dry regions near
permanent, standing waters. They use the
outskirts of deserts and woodlands as
their habitat.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Lovebirds are approximately 6 inches and
weigh from 1.4 ounces to 2.1 ounces. The
females tend to be slightly heavier than
the males. They are some of the smallest
parrots in the world. They
characteristics include a stocky build,
a short blunt tail and a beak that is
large in comparison to the rest of their
bodies. They are mostly green with an
orange or pinkish face; their backs and
rumps are blue. The young initially have
much paler faces that the adults.
Brighter feathers grow in after their
first molt at 4 months.
ADAPTATIONS:
This species of lovebird is commonly
seen in flocks of 20 to 30 birds. When
the grass seeds ripen in their natural
environment, it is not uncommon to see
groups of 100 or more birds. Movement is
made primarily through flight, but over
short distances, lovebirds will walk or
sidle sideways. Long flights are
regularly interjected with periods of
gliding. These gliding periods are most
often accompanied by their
characteristic squawking call. Their
call can be given as a single sound or a
series of screeches. Mates communicate
for breeding purposes. When they are
cold, lovebirds will fluff their
feathers out and huddle together in
pairs or groups of 4 or 5 to conserve
heat. They are known to nest in palm
trees and cacti and the nests of other
birds. They deal with predators by
mobbing. As part of this behavior, the
birds will stand upright and squawk
loudly. If the predator moves closer,
they flap their wings wildly, holding
their bodies erect and squawk at a
higher pitch. They will also move toward
the predator, as if to attack. If the
predator does not back down, the
lovebirds will attack as a large group.
DIET:
The Peach-faced Lovebird typically feeds
on seeds, especially those native to its
habitat. It will pick the seeds off
growing plants or pick them off the
ground, then husk them rapidly using the
tongue, mandible and the cutting edge of
the maxilla. It feeds on flowers by
plucking them from trees and clipping
the petals and stamens with the beak.
Due to the hot, arid climate in which
they live, lovebirds have to drink water
several times a day.
REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT:
Lovebirds will pick their mates as young
as two months. Pairs formed between
siblings are not uncommon. The male will
wait for female approval before
approaching; females show their approval
by assuming a fluffed position. Feeding
is an important part of the interaction
between mates, so the males will feed
the females during courtship. The male
lovebird will bob his head and creep
towards the female sideways, called
sidling, to approach a potential mate.
If she appears to be aggressive, he will
approach her from the other side, called
switch sidling. These birds commonly
breed in large, communal nests. In the
wild, on average, 4 to 6 eggs are laid
in one season. In captivity as many as 8
eggs are laid. Eggs hatch after 23 days
of incubation and the young are fledged
at about 43 days.
STATUS IN WILD:
The Peach-Faced Lovebird is not
currently considered a threatened or
endangered species.
