Lovebird

The genus Agapornis is the common name for a small group of parrots in the Old World parrot family Psittacidae. All nine species in the genus are native to Africa, with the exception of the grey-headed lovebird, which is native to the African island of Madagascar.

The name comes from the parrots' strong, monogamous pair bonding and the long periods of sitting together that paired birds spend. Lovebirds feed on fruits, vegetables, grasses, and seeds in small groups. Insects and figs are also eaten by black-winged lovebirds, and Black-collared lovebirds have a special dietary requirement for native figs, making them difficult to keep in captivity.

Lovebirds are 13 to 17 cm long, have a wingspan of up to 24 cm, with a single wing measuring 9 cm, and weigh 40 to 60 g. They are among the smallest parrots, with a stocky build, a short blunt tail, and a large, sharp beak. Depending on the species, wild-type lovebirds are mostly green with a variety of colors on their upper bodies. A prominent white ring surrounds the eyes of Fischer's lovebird, a Black-cheeked lovebird, and a masked lovebird. Many color mutant varieties have been produced through selective breeding of popular aviculture species.