The Peach Faced Lovebird, also known as the Rosy-Faced Lovebird, is a breed of Lovebird from Southwest Africa.
They can also be identified by their Latin name, Agapornis roseicollis. This small bird generally grows to 6 inches in length.
They come in over 15 different colors, and thrive in arid climates. Plus, they can be seen in the wild in the Namib Desert.
So, let’s find out everything about the Peach Faced Lovebird to see if it will suit your family.
Where Does The Peach Faced Lovebird Come From?
The Peach Faced Lovebird is one of the small members of the Parrot family. They come in a variety of different colors and can live up to 20 years old as pets.
You may find them in your backyard if you live in the American Southwest or Africa. These areas are home to feral populations of birds who escaped captivity and continued breeding to form the large flocks they live in today.
Fun Facts About The Peach Faced Lovebird
Did you know these facts about Peach Faced Lovebirds?
- Peach Faced Lovebirds come in more than 15 color variations
- The longest living pet Peach Faced Lovebird lived 34 years
- They live in holes in the ground in the wild
- Despite their name, they can be mean!
Peach Faced Lovebird Appearance
The Peach Faced Lovebird has achieved so many different colorations through a variety of spontaneous genetic mutations. Breeders then deliberately selected for these in subsequent generations.
The most common colors include an orange face, blue back, and mostly green everywhere else.
With so many different mutations in this breed, a Peach Faced Lovebird can be many combinations of colors.
They are a small bird and generally grow to 6 inches in length. Females tend to be ‘fuller’ looking in comparison to males.
Peach Faced Lovebird Behavior And Temperament
Peach Faced Lovebirds are alert and cheeky. They are great at escaping their cage, and have a lot of energy and enjoy playing.
Given the name ‘Lovebird’, they are very social and thrive if they have a mate to interact with, either a human or another Lovebird.
If you decide to keep them in pairs, they will be inseparable and may even ignore their owner. With a single bird, however, it will be cuddly, always wanting to be around you.
The Peach Faced Lovebird needs a lot of attention.
They aren’t noisy birds. But they will make noise if something exciting is happening! Although they are a part of the Parrot family, these birds don’t talk. But they can learn to whistle.
How To Tame A Peach Faced Lovebird
This breed is a true companion bird. They want nothing more than to sit on your lap.
Fortunately, birds are very intelligent animals. It won’t take you long to tame your Peach Faced Lovebird.
Let’s talk about how.
Steps To A Tame Lovebird
Give your Peach Faced Lovebird about two weeks in their new environment in a busy hallway area so they get used to being around humans and noise.
Talk to your bird a few times a day in a neutral voice, so they get used to hearing from you.
Always approach the bird in a slow and gentle way, and never be rough when handling them. Place your hand near their cage for a few times a day for a week. This will get them used to your hand.
For another week, place your hand inside the cage. You can even fill your hand with their favorite feed or treat and encourage them to perch on your hand while eating.
This may take time, so don’t lose hope. Reward your bird when he does the right thing and ignore any unwanted behavior.
Ensure that you have a bird-proof room or house to let the bird out of their cage for some exercise.
Peach Faced Lovebird Training
Yes, this breed is trainable.
After they are used to you and your hand, you can begin training them to do party tricks or other behaviors of your choice.
Just remember to give a reward for correct behavior, and ignore unwanted behavior.
The timing of the reward is important too. You need to reward instantly, and not 15 seconds later after you got the treat out of your pocket.
Peach Faced Lovebird Health
The Peach Faced Lovebird has a lifespan of 5 to 15 years in the wild, but 10 to 20 years as a pet.
They are susceptible to certain health conditions and behaviors.
Chlamydiosis
Chlamydiosis is prevalent among Lovebirds. It is also known as Parrot Fever. The disease causes infections without any symptoms and may result in sudden death. This disease is also a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be spread to humans.
It is caused by an organism called Chlamydophila psittaci. This organism is similar to bacteria and viruses, but has its own classification. Once a bird catches this disease, it is extremely difficult to treat, as the organism lives inside the cells of the bird.
Some of the common symptoms of this disease include decreased appetite, weight loss, lethargy, wet droppings, and breathing difficulties. The organism can affect all of the bird’s internal organs, resulting in death.
All birds should be tested before sale. Some birds may carry the disease without exhibiting any symptoms, making it even trickier to detect or diagnose.
Self-Mutilation
The Peach Faced Lovebird is also susceptible to self-mutilation. This is where the bird bites itself or pulls out its own feathers. Unfortunately, there is little known about the root causes and measure to take when your bird is self-harming.
This 1998 study relates the use of cages and abnormal behavior in birds.
It seems that this behavior is quickly reinforced and maintained if your bird was hand-reared by a human, rather than its parents. Other causes could be improper behavioral reinforcement, psychological stress or physical stress.
In the wild, birds go from tree to tree, picking up seeds and berries as food and interacting with mates. They live in a flock and are never isolated. The Peach Faced Lovebird may even fly up to 100 miles a day.
The closer their domestic living environment to the wild, the fewer problems with health and behavior.
According to this 2012 study, self-mutilation seems to be a common behavior in Peach Faced Lovebirds due to their need for social interaction. We recommend not keeping a single Lovebird, but rather at least a pair.
Rapid Breeding
Be careful about keeping your birds in mixed-sex groups.
They are known to be rapid breeders, and you could easily end up with an out-of-control population of birds in your house.
Nutritional Needs Of Your Peach Faced Lovebird
Peach Faced Lovebirds are prone to nutritional deficiencies and disorders resulting from an inadequate diet. Even without a male around, females will stay lay eggs and are at higher risk of a calcium deficiency.
Base their diet on what they would eat in the wild. This includes berries, leaf buds, seeds, nuts and other small plants. Feed them pelleted food and supplement with fresh fruits and seeds.
Using a pelleted diet will ensure they are getting all their essential micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. Always provide fresh drinking water, changed daily.
There are many Parrot specific foods out there, including fresh berries and seeds, which will keep your Peach Faced Lovebird in great condition. If you are in any doubt about the nutritional requirements of your Lovebird, contact your Vet for advice.
This 2002 study highlights the significant issues pet birds are facing with nutritional deficiencies. For more detailed information, check out our page on feeding Lovebirds.
Do Peach Faced Lovebird Make Good Family Pets?
Providing these birds receive adequate care, nutrition, socialization, and a suitable living environment, there is no reason why they can’t be great family pets. They are very loving birds and will love to spend time interacting with children.
Since they are a small bird, we wouldn’t recommend them around small children who don’t yet understand how to interact gently with small animals.
Finding A Peach Faced Lovebird
Start by looking at local animal rescue centers, as they may have what you are looking for there.
If not, find a responsible breeder who performs all the correct health checks and breeds the birds in a responsible way.
Avoid purchasing from a pet store, as you have no way of knowing where the bird came from or any potential health conditions that may exist.
How To Keep A Peach Faced Lovebird
As with all birds, the closer you can get their living environment to their natural habitat, the better.
In the case of the Peach Faced Lovebird, they come from a hot, arid country. If you live in a colder climate, your bird will be better suited indoors. The general rule is to purchase the biggest, best cage for your bird that you can suitably fit into your home or afford.
The smaller the cage, the more time the bird will need to spend outside of the cage. Birds should not be locked in a cage all day and night. They need time outside of their cage to interact with the family and spread their wings.
Ideally, you should spend as much time as possible interacting with your bird. If this is not possible, then we suggest you purchase or adopt two birds together.
Peach Faced Lovebird Products And Accessories
Your Peach Faced Lovebird will need a cage to be kept in when you are not around to supervise them, and for some much-needed rest time. Check out our article on Lovebird cages to find the perfect cage for your Lovebird.
Inside the cage, they will need a perch, some interactive toys, a food bowl, and a water bowl.
Lovebirds can be messy and will suit a base that can be easily pulled out for cleaning, rather than a fixed solid base.
Chew toys are also a good idea, as Lovebirds are known to chew through things they shouldn’t!
Pros and Cons of Getting A Peach Faced Lovebird
Cons:
- Require a lot of social interaction to keep them happy
- Need a lot of out-of-cage time to keep them happy
- Prone to certain serious diseases
Pros:
- Friendly
- Make good family pets providing they are properly cared for
- Relatively quiet birds
- Small, so are easy to care for
Is A Peach Faced Lovebird Right For Me?
If you are looking for a bird to keep you company and you are prepared to spend a lot of time interacting with them, then the Peach Faced Lovebird is for you.
They are not suited to independent living and rely on a mate. This can be a human or another Peach Faced Lovebird.
They will give you back just as much love and affection as you give them, for as long as they live.
References and Resources
- C. van Hoek and C. Ten Cate. (1998) Abnormal Behavior in Caged Birds Kept as Pets. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 1, 51-64.
- Hess, L., Mauldin, G., Rosenthal, K. (2002) Estimated nutrient content of diets commonly fed to pet birds. Veterinary Record 150, 399-404.
- J. Rubinstein and T. Lightfoot. (2012) Feather Loss and Feather Destructive Behavior in Pet Birds. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 21 (3), 2019-234.
- VCA Hospitals. (2019) Chlamydophilosis in Birds.
