All about lovebirds parrots

Parrots are just those birds that many people want to breed. But before doing this, you need to thoroughly understand their specific varieties. In this article we will understand what lovebird parrots are.

This genus belongs to the family of parrots of the order of parrots. Lovebird parrots reach 0.1-0.17 m in length. The wingspan is 0.04 m, the tail is extended by 0.06 m. The weight of the bird is from 0.04 to 0.06 kg. The head is relatively large.

Most often, the feather is green. However, single areas (upper tail, breast, head and neck) can be painted in different colors. Occurs:

• red;
• blue;
• yellow;
• pink and other colors.

The beak itself is colored either bright red or straw yellow. The tail is not too long, and neither are the legs. However, this does not prevent the parrot from moving quickly along the ground and even climbing trees.

Lovebirds live in the forests of the tropics and subtropics; there are also species that inhabit the steppe and mountainous areas. They are characterized by a gregarious way of life. The flight of these parrots is very fast and stable. At night, birds sit on tree branches or cling to small twigs. There are mentions that different flocks can fight for already occupied trees.

According to some reports, the homeland of lovebirds is Southwest and Southeast Africa, Madagascar. Nesting occurs in hollows. There, the birds only lay out the bedding.But occasionally lovebirds are engaged in the construction of nests. Construction is proceeding very efficiently.

To build a nest, birds need:

• small twigs;
• blades of grass;
• fragments of the bark.

Curiously, different species in this genus can carry the collected building material in different ways. Someone carries it in their beaks, and someone flies, delivering the same twigs under the feathers. Clutch of 4-8 eggs. Incubation time is 21-25 days. The name "lovebirds" is associated with the idea that if one of a pair of birds dies, the other will soon die.

But this is more of a myth, it just takes some time before a new family appears. The flocks are relatively small, each containing several married couples. Very often, lovebirds are attracted to the farms that provide them with food. The birds feed on seeds and berries.

The rosy-cheeked lovebird reaches 0.17 m in length, while its wing grows to 0.1 m. The tonality of such a parrot is very graceful, contains rich green tones. The back has a slight blue tint... The name of the species is due to the fact that the cheeks, as well as the throat, are pink in color. The deep red forehead and straw yellow beak look very attractive.

The tail feathers in the middle are tinted green. They are red on the sides, including wide black stripes. The tail feathers are colored bright blue. Young chicks have a brownish-black beak, only its tip is lighter. At the same time, young animals do not have red tones.

Lovebirds are common in nature in Namibia, Angola and the Republic of South Africa. Although birds inhabit dry areas, they tend to seek water sources. In some cases, lovebirds settle in the walls of huts or under a roof. The rosy-cheeked species is more popular among breeders.

Fischer's view is also quite popular. Such lovebirds are cheerful and energetic, while special difficulties in content are excluded. Fischer's parrot is slightly smaller than rosy-cheeked - up to 0.15 m. At the same time, its wings grow up to 0.2 m. The species got its name in honor of the German explorer of Africa. Since the breeders are actively working with the Fishers, these birds have an impressive palette of feathers. And the natural color of the feather is very graceful. The parrot is dressed up and even looks like a Christmas tree toy. The backs, bellies and short tails are green in color, diluted with bluish notes.

The neck and head are orange with a reddish tint. The plumage of the breast is lemon-colored. Expressive black eyes girdled with white skin. Strong scarlet beaks have a scarlet surface. The tarsi are relatively short and tipped with slightly blue toes.

Fisher's lovebirds inhabit the savannahs of northern Tanzania. Near the shores of Lake Victoria, they have settled down firmly, even adapted to the change of dry and wet seasons. The abundance of grasses and low shrubs provides ample material for both feeding and nesting. Small parrots are grouped in flocks and only during breeding do they settle in pairs.

The family unions of Fischer's lovebirds are of enviable strength. Nests are built in trees or in rocky terrain. Over the past 80 years, European ornithologists and breeders have managed to gain a fair amount of experience in raising these parrots in captivity.

Masked lovebirds also deserve attention. They look very pretty. Most often, the bird does not exceed 0.15 m in length. The share of the tail is 0.04 m. The wings of this species are up to 0.05 m long. The mass of an adult masked lovebird can reach 0.05 kg.The name of the species was given for the characteristic "mask". Large brown eyes are surrounded by dark feathers. The plumage of the masked species of birds is painted in bright colors, among which green is dominant. In combination with the rest of the yellow feathers, a very attractive look is obtained.

The rich red beak helps to complete the look. Thanks to him, a bird can seem as colorful as a rainbow. When kept in a cage, a masked lovebird can live for 10-12 years. Older specimens are also rare. In nature, the species populates Kenya and Tanzania, forming flocks of several dozen individuals. There, birds settle near water bodies and nest in low trees, on bushes.

The main food is local cereals and fruits. The melodies that the masked lovebird publishes very clearly reflect their mood. The disadvantage of this type is the difficulty of learning and training. Something can only be taught to singles, but you will have to deal with them from the very first days. To some extent, learning is facilitated by a fairly high intelligence and excellent memory.

It is also useful to characterize the black-cheeked lovebird. In appearance, it is similar to that of Fischer. However, the bird is slightly smaller. The difference is that black-cheeked parrots have an orange-red collar. The feathers on the head are painted in a light gray tone.

Liliana's lovebird, aka strawberry-headed, is extremely rare, since its export from its permanent habitats is prohibited. You can distinguish this species from Fisher's parrot by the green upper tail. Ripe strawberry color is characteristic of the forehead, cheeks and throat. The rest of the head and chest are light green, the beak is colored red. Dimorphism is not traced. Liliana's lovebird divorces very easily and can adapt to a wide variety of conditions.

For those who do not need to purchase a well-speaking bird, you can purchase a black-winged lovebird. But the color of this species is not very attractive. In addition, the export of birds to Europe is only possible with strict restrictions. The green bird has black stripes above the wings and at the edge of the tail. The end of the tail is colored green.

Red-faced, aka orange-headed, the parrot has a color in the tone of green grass. In this case, not only the cheeks and forehead, but even the neck are red. The ultramarine uppertail looks amazing. These birds, with a black inner wing, love warmth. In nature, they inhabit termite mounds, which is very unusual.

The gray-headed lovebird living in Madagascar is characterized by strong dimorphism. The species is considered the smallest of the whole genus. The plumage is rather pale. Parrots are quite calm, they even differ in some timidity. At the same time, cold and humidity are very bad for birds.

This question is related to the popular myth that it is unacceptable to separate a formed pair of parrots. They say that this will lead to the death of birds from longing. Even the genus name seems to be symptomatic. However, in fact, if you separate these parrots, they will live quite normally. And even with the initial loneliness, the lovebird lives well.

But at the same time, you cannot leave the bird uncontrolled. Singles should be approached differently than couples. Solitary parrots require increased attention. During the first week, the individual will adapt to the changed environment.

Do not think that after adaptation, it is enough for the bird to feed and talk to it. We'll have to communicate more actively. You have to play with lonely lovebirds - both in the cage and in free flight. If the parrot constantly lives in the cage, then it will not be able to fully develop. Regular physical activity is also important for him.

Eliminate boredom, when the owners cannot deal with the lovebird, use special toys:

• small bells;
• rustles;
• stairs;
• ropes.

If a lovebird becomes an orphan forcibly, after the death or other loss of a partner, he can:

• fall into apathy;
• to be sad;
• pluck feathers.

Sometimes the solution is to change the pair. The main thing is that she is not of the same sex. It so happens that the second lovebird does not help. In this case, urgent veterinary assistance is required. He must examine both birds.

When one of a pair of birds dies from any disease (especially an infectious one), the second one must be examined. And in case of death from an accident, the remaining bird should be given maximum care and attention. They try to communicate more with the parrot. They give him unexpected bright gifts and favorite goodies. When the owner is in the room, he must keep the cage open - the parrot may want to go for a walk.

It can be useful to equip a new play area. When the owner leaves the room, he must carefully, without violence, drive the parrot into the cage. The door must be closed. To make things easier, they use a treat.

Let's disappoint right away: the full-fledged domestication of lovebirds in the sense that they follow commands, like a trained dog or cat, is impossible. But it is quite possible to wean biting - if you find the right approach. Taming in a more serious form is only possible for single individuals, especially if started from an early age. Breaking the established stereotypes of behavior in birds is very difficult. If a pair of birds lives, then they will pay almost all their attention to each other, and they will pay attention to a person according to the residual principle.

Taming lovebirds takes a long time and at first it may seem like there are no results at all. First, you need to deal with the natural fear of the animal in relation to man. Only after complete habituation, being at rest, will he fully communicate with the owner. It is unacceptable to force contact in the first few days after buying a new individual!

The fact is that at this time she is already adapting to the dramatically changed environment. Attempts to get close and communicate can be perceived as a serious, moreover, obscure threat. There is practically no chance of coping with such a reaction in the future. During adaptation, contact with the bird should be limited to only necessary care. At other times, you cannot enter the room again.

It is imperative to close the door and exclude the appearance of noise. Some lovebirds find themselves so shocked by the move that they even fear using an unusual feeder. Then a certain amount of food is simply poured onto the bottom of the cage. This will allow, along with nutrition, to begin to establish contact. Nobody will name the exact dates, how many days or hours the adaptation lasts.

You need to carefully look at the reaction of the bird. The first sign that a parrot trusts its owners is its complete calmness when they appear. To speed up the process, the animal is fed modest portions every 3-4 hours.

Gradually, for taming, they begin to be more and more near the cage... Best immediately after laying down the food. In this case, sweeping movements and loud sounds are unacceptable. Noticing that the lovebird has begun to live in peace, ignoring cleaning or feeding, you can try to deepen the contact. Toys and small pieces of tasty food are important helpers.

Toys are twisted around the cage. The parrot's favorite food is pushed through the bars. You can only turn your hand inside if the bird has paid attention to the bait. It is categorically impossible, with any degree of contact, to encroach on bird territory. This can be perceived as aggression, and an attack will follow in response.

As soon as the slightest displeasure, irritation is noticed, it is better to remove your hands from the cage. A second attempt should be made only after 2-3 days. When the bird still has fresh memories of what happened, a new contact can only provoke the consolidation of a conditioned reflex.

Knowing how to distinguish a female from a male, how to determine the number of years of an individual, is very important when buying lovebirds. Any one sign may be of little informative and even deceiving. It is advisable to observe the bird for a while in captivity. The need to distinguish a boy from a girl arises even for those who intend to keep only one bird. Later it will be impossible to retrain her from one nickname to another; at best, it will take a lot of time and effort.

In addition, having placed parrots homogeneous on the floor in a cage, you will have to suffer all the time from their quarrels and screams. Usually, "women" have a larger body than "men". They also have:

• less flat top of the head;
• higher forehead;
• less angular nape;
• the head as a whole is closer to the dome shape and somewhat smaller.

The male beak is paler than the female and has a faint central groove. In this case, a closer placement of the paws turns out to be an additional clue. A big problem in assessing the sex and age of a wild lovebird is its aggressiveness. At home, the bird is shown to veterinarians. When buying, they go to safe places, and ideally go there with a veterinarian or an expert.

In terms of size, a month-old lovebird is not inferior to adults and even old individuals. It is necessary to look at the skin above the beak near the nostrils. In the first three months it is dark, and later brightens. An important clue when determining age is the color of the feather. It is only necessary to take into account the features of a particular species. In general, an old individual can be recognized by:

• relatively small pupil;
• darkening of the paws;
• an increase in the number of scales on them;
• enlargement and thickening of the beak;
• sometimes by peeling it off.

When starting a parrot at home, many expect that the bird will speak. It must be taken into account right away that The lovebird is significantly inferior in talkativeness and clarity of speech not only to cockatoos, but also to budgies. It is impossible to get them to pronounce phrases, sentences. What is quite realistic to achieve is that the birds can give their names. It should also be borne in mind that the lovebird's voice has a high frequency, and its timbre is very harsh.

Success is achieved only:

• in a spacious cage;
• with good nutrition;
• subject to systematic communication with the owners.

The parrot will speak loudly... This is a natural feature, and nothing can be done about it. He must be taught gradually. Long painstaking work will allow the bird to master up to 10 words. It is impossible to achieve more. It is important to understand that mastering human speech is a stressful regime for the bird. That is loneliness. Classes should be carried out every day, seven days a week, spending 40-45 minutes three or four times a day. Train the parrot to speak at the same time. Education begins at 7 or 8 months (it makes no sense either earlier and later).

It takes about 12 months to wait for the result. The first words should be with the sounds A and O. It is best if the lovebird's nickname also includes such phonemes. When choosing a name, you need to choose only short words that can be clearly pronounced.

Lovebirds can be kept completely calm at home. However, the right choice of an individual plays an important role. A healthy bird is different:

• smooth plumage sparkling in the sun;
• the uniformity of the feather throughout the body;
• clear expression in the eyes;
• activity and curiosity.

A transport cage is used to transport poultry. If it is not there, you can use a plywood box, in the top of which a hole is made. When bringing your parrot home in late fall, winter, or early spring, a bag is required. It reduces the likelihood of hypothermia. The best permanent artificial nests are nickel-plated steel along with plastic or plexiglass.

But it is better to refuse copper, zinc, lead, bamboo and wooden cages. Ideal shape - rectangle with flat roof... Space in the cage and the ability to push the bottom are very important. Between the twigs there should be 0.01-0.015 m. Since the birds come from a humid tropical zone, the air should be warmed up to 23-25 ​​degrees with a relative humidity of 50 to 60%.

Lovebirds should not be housed near hot batteries and heating equipment. It is worth providing normal lighting in the room. The window is covered with thin tulle to prevent direct sunlight from falling.

The prerequisites for a good cage are:

• a pair of feeders (separately for dry and wet feed);
• automatic drinker;
• bath.

Dry food should be poured from the evening with the calculation until the end of the next day. Wet food is poured in the morning, removed in the evening. It is imperative to wash the feeders before each new tab. The entire cage is washed once every 7 days with hot water without soap. The litter is changed at the same time.

The diet is dominated by grains and seeds. If there is no desire to purchase store food, lovebirds are fed (per day):

• 0.15 kg of millet;
• 0.15 kg canary seeds;
• 0.2 kg of oatmeal;
• 0.1 kg of sunflower seeds;
• 0.1 kg of pure oats;
• 0.1 kg of coarse corn.

As a treat, they periodically give crackers, nuts. Be sure to use juicy feed.

Daily bathing should be done during the summer months. During the breeding season, when birds are incubating eggs, and when chicks have hatched but not yet matured, special care should be taken. The slightest mistake can lead to sad consequences. Excessive invasion of personal space will harm parrots. There is no need to sharpen the beak. Instead of special tools, they simply give young branches of fruit trees.

The optimal time for breeding is summer and early autumn. Chicks will be healthy when the air humidity is from 50 to 60%. The temperature is from 18 to 20 degrees. A nest house is placed in the cage. A pair of parrots will give up to 8 chicks.

Raising lovebirds alone is more difficult than keeping pairs. Lovebird birds:

• beautiful;
• quite sociable;
• cause inconvenience in a harsh voice;
• may litter while eating;
• severely restrict the freedom of the owners.

In the next video, you will find even more information about lovebirds.