It seems that the lovebird is the most fashionable animal nowadays, and it is not for less, since it is one of the most beautiful birds that exist. But when it comes to choosing one, which one is the best? If you’re a rookie, maybe you should go for a red-headed lovebird.
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Its origin is unknown
In fact, it is not known when this lovebird began to appear, but it was discovered in 1758 and was named agapornis pullarius, although it is commonly known as red-headed lovebird because of its reddish face that makes it so characteristic.
It is one of the least popular because of its particular way of walking, but that also makes it special. For quite some time they were very common in England and Holland, but because of the little success they had with reproduction they lost interest in this bird, so they are not very common in the West.
What are its characteristics?
It is one of the smallest variants available, about 14 centimeters, weighing no more than 50 grams. Like the agapornis canus (or grey-headed lovebird), it is a fairly cheerful animal that likes to snoop around, especially if it was born in captivity. In the case of a bird caught in the wild, it is usually very frightening and does not adapt well to being indoors.
It is normal for the plumage on most of your body to be green, except for your face, which has an orange-red hue. The feathers of her abdomen and underskirts are more yellowish in colour, while the wing area is black. The rump is usually light blue in colour and the tail is green. Its legs are grey, with an orange-red beak and a dark brown iris. However, some mutations can be found such as red-headed lovebird ugandae that the bluish tone of its tailbone is paler.
Unlike other variants of the species, it is easier to differentiate the female because she has sexual dimorphism, even though it is not as pronounced. For example, the coloring is similar to the male, but the head and eye area is a more anarchousian color than red, but the main difference is that the color of the wing undercoatings is green while the male is black.
When they are young, the tone of their feathers is more muted and they look very much like females, so it is quite difficult to differentiate them. But when you grow up, males change the green color of the undercore of their wings from green to black.
Is it suitable for pet ownership?
Many have given up on breeding this type of bird because of the difficulty of breeding it. However, it is not impossible and as a pet it is true that it is very difficult to find a better one.
They are not very violent birds except when they are in heat or with their partner, who do not like being around other birds very much. They like to have some place to bathe inside the cage and have their back caressed, which they respond to with gentle head movements. Its diet is mainly composed of herbs and plants, especially Sorghum seeds, and also fruits, with guavas and wild figs being its favourite. It can also be given berries and tree shoots.
The breeding season of this bird depends on the area in which it is found. For example, in Africa they breed in April, June and October. Once they have fallen in love with the female, the courtship begins and shortly after the consummation and after 20 days the female will lay the eggs. It is necessary to provide them with a medium sized nest, since each clutch can lay 4 or 5 eggs.
When removing it from the cage you have to be very careful, especially if you have not yet gained confidence with its owner, as it is a bird that flies very fast. Although he is very curious, he is also a bit scary, so you should never try to catch him if he escapes from the cage. Just close the room and let him explore it, leave his favorite food in the cage and when he’s hungry he’ll go for it.
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