Peach-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Peach-faced Lovebird, or Rosy-faced Lovebird, is a tiny parrot native to dry country in southwestern Africa, mostly green with a pink face and a blue rump. In the U.S., its only established wild population lives around Phoenix, Arizona, where flocks descended from escaped pets are thought to number more than 2,000 birds.

Appearance

Appearance: A tiny parrot, 5.9–6.7 in (15–17 cm) long and about 1.4–1.8 oz (40–52 g). Mostly green with a bright reddish-pink face that fades into the chest, a blue rump, and a short, pointed tail. Males and females look alike; young birds have a paler pink face.
Voice: Loud, frequent chattering and harsh, high-pitched calls and screams.

Look-alikes

Fischer's LovebirdAgapornis fischeri

Fischer's has a bold white ring around the eye, an orange head, and a red bill. The Rosy-faced has no white eye ring and a pink face.

Why they get mixed upEscaped or lovebirds of several species show up in Arizona.

Yellow-collared LovebirdAgapornis personatus

This one has a dark head, a yellow collar, and a bold white eye ring. The Rosy-faced has a pink face and no eye ring.

Why they get mixed upAlso kept as a pet and seen as an escapee in the U.S.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: dry woodlands
semi-desert
suburban neighborhoods
Range: Native from southwestern Angola through most of Namibia to northwestern South Africa. In the U.S., an established feral population lives in the greater Phoenix area of Arizona, where flocks have bred in neighborhoods since at least the mid-1980s. Escaped pets turn up elsewhere now and then.
Preferred conditions: Needs water nearby and gathers at pools to drink.

Behavior

Diet: Mostly seeds and berries.
Social life: Very social and noisy. In Phoenix it is usually seen in small flocks.

Life cycle

Nest: In Phoenix, pairs nest under the dead fronds of untrimmed palm trees or in holes in giant saguaro cacti. In Africa it uses rock crevices, the big communal nests of other birds, and roofs.
Clutch size: 4–6 eggs
Incubation: About 23 days
Fledging: About 43 days

Name and classification

Varieties and forms: Breeders have produced many color varieties, including blue-series birds without the green, so pet lovebirds can look very different from the wild type.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
Status: Trapping for the pet trade has reduced some wild populations, especially in southern Angola.