PEACH FACED LOVEBIRD
Scientific Name: Agapornis roseicollis
Other Common Names: Rosy-Faced or Rosy-Collared Lovebird
Native Country: Southwestern Africa – including Namibia, Angola and South Africa
Habitat: Dry, Arid, Semi-desert, Woodland and Mountainous areas
Height (Head to Tail): 15-18cm, Small Size
Lifespan: up to 20 years in captivity
Weight: 45 – 65 grams
Peach Faced Lovebird – Appearance:
Multi-colored – varied based on mutations and alleles
Peach faced lovebirds have so many color mutations, it’s hard to keep track anymore! To begin with, their base color is either green – dominant trait or blue – the recessive trait. The blue base (aka Blue Series) has 2 variants – Dutch Blue & White-faced Blue. Other mutations include the Orange-faced, Dark, Violet, Lutino, Pallid (Australian Cinnamon), American Cinnamon and Opaline.
Peach Faced Lovebird – Diet:
70% Seed & Spray Millet Mix – Should provide a variety of sprouted seeds, grains, nuts and granules for full coverage of essential vitamins and minerals e.g. sunflower, barley, white millet, plain canary, hulled oats, japanese millet, saff flower and sunflower. Learn how to make your own sprout seed mix here. Popular brands specializing in lovebird diets include Tropimix, Vetafarm and Trill. Also highly recommend Avi-Cakes or Nutri-Berries.
30% Fresh Fruit and Vegetables– Figs, Apple, Carrot, Kale, Peas, Sweet Corn
 | Vetafarm Parrot Essentials Complete Diet 2kg |
 | Lafeber’s Original Flavor Avi-Cakes (3 pack) |
 | LAFEBER’S Tropical Fruit Nutri-Berries 3lb |
Peach Faced Lovebird – Essentials:
When bringing your little birdie home for the first time, you will need to ensure you have the basics sorted beforehand.
- Bird Cage – at least 45cm x 45cm x 45cm (W x L x H) – plenty of room for toys and exercise; best to line the cage with newspaper to easily clean their droppings/mess
- Cage Cover – any cloth that covers 90% of the cage so the bird can sleep in darkness e.g. blanket
- Perch – at least 1 perch (preferably branch shape) for sleeping and general support, may want to add a rope or wooden ladder for entertainment
- Toys – 1 or 2 toys to begin with for mental stimulation/entertainment; highly recommend foraging toys or those made of coconut shells
- Bowls – 3x bowls (one for seeds, one for fresh fruit/vegetables and the other for water); your bird might use the water bowl to bath too, that’s completely fine!
Still not sure? Click here to download our 100% FREE bird care checklist here.
Peach Faced Lovebird – Behavior:
- Socialization: Energetic and cheeky birds. They usually prefer living with a mate or in flocks of about 4-5 so be prepared to provide frequent attention if you are adopting a lovebird in isolation. However be cautious, lovebirds are territorial parrots and show aggressive behavior to other unfamiliar birds.
- Vocalization: Similar to masked lovebirds, they are not loud but very chattery birds. Love to whistle. Do not have the capacity to talk or mimic words.
Peach Faced Lovebird – Breeding:
Masked lovebirds reach sexual maturity at 12 months of age and are monogamous, meaning they usually mate with one partner for life. Males and females are monomorphic – meaning hard to distinguish by appearance, so it’s best to see your vet for a DNA tests or an experienced breeder can inspect the bird and advise the gender. Other requirements for breeding are mentioned below:
- Requirements:
- Rectangle shaped Nest box (min. dimensions 25x17x27cm – HxWxL)
- Nest box filling e.g. willow branches, roughly slivered corn, maize husk, non-toxic wood shavings, grass or a cheaper alternative – newspaper shreds
- Ensure a well rounded healthy diet of seed mix, fruit and vegetables
- Mating Partner: Monogamous (bonded pair male & female – one partner for life)
- Breeding Season: All year round in captivity but in the wild breeding occurs during spring to early summer.
- Clutch Frequency: 1 clutch per year
- Clutch Quantity: 3-5 eggs per clutch
- Incubation Period: 23 days
- Weaning: Fully weaned at ~6 weeks
Peach Faced Lovebird – Health:
| Common Issue | Symptoms | Causes |
|---|---|---|
| Psittacosis | Appetite loss, fluffed feathers, vomiting, nasal/ocular discharge, diarrhea or pale green feces, breathing difficulties, conjunctivitis, minimal physical movement, tremors | Bacteria: Chlamydia psittaci contracted via infected dried saliva, feathers, mucous and feces |
| Feather Plucking | Form of self mutilation by plucking their own feathers, leaving bald patches of skin | Boredom, lack of mental stimulation, poor diet, illness, stress |
| Psittacine Beak & Feather Disease | Sharp, clubbed or abnormally short feathers, pigment loss in colored feathers, bloody feather shafts | Beak & Feather Disease Virus (BFDV) contracted from other infected birds e.g. oral – parent feeding young or ingestion of virus particles in dust feces |
| Aspergillosis | Weight loss, lethargy, constantly fluffed feathers, difficulty breathing, cloudy eyes, droopy wings | Aspergillus fungus: exposure to spores found in dust, mold, soil – mainly affects malnourished or immunocompromised birds |
| Malnutrition | Overweight, nasal discharge, sneezing, conjunctivitis, poor feather quality, weakness, egg binding, embryonic death, | Vitamin A or Calcium deficiency |
Did You Know?
1. In the wild, peach faced lovebirds can be seen flying in flocks of up to 100!
2. These nifty birds can be found building nests in cacti. Ouch!
3. Peach-faced breeds are the largest of the lovebird species