Masked Love Birds

Distribution and Habitat:

Masked Lovebirds aka Black-masked Lovebirds or Yellow-collared Lovebirds (Agapornis personatus) are small, stocky African parrots that are native to the inland plateaus of northern and central Tanzania in light brushwood and trees. Some flocks can also be found in north-east Kenya and in the coastal areas of Tanzania.

The Masked Lovebird were discovered in the late 1800s - but were not imported until the 1920's. The blue mutation also occurred in the wild, and was imported soon after its introduction.

These lovebirds are social creatures that form small nesting colonies in the wild. In captivity, they do best in an aviary setting. They are not happy in solitary confinement situations. They either need plenty of human attention or a mate.

Black-masked lovebirds, and the many color variations that have been produced in captivity, are very popular in the pet trade and are now some of the most common pet birds in America and Europe.

The Masked Lovebirds are frequently named by their body color - rather than the mask color; such as green-masked lovebirds, blue-masked lovebirds, violet-masked lovebirds, etc.

Description (Normal Green Masked Lovebird):

Masked lovebirds average 6 inches or 14.5 cm in length. The naturally occurring masked lovebirds have a green body color. The head is mostly black and the color of its plumage is except for a few highlights green with a yellow collar. However, other mutations -- specifically blue and yellow -- have been bred in captivity.

• Sexing / Gender Identification: Males and females look alike in appearance - although hens are usually larger in size, and may have a smaller, more rounded head.

• Plumage:
  • The body, abdomen and under-tail coverts of the normal / naturally-occurring black-masked lovebirds are yellowish–green. The rump is greyish blue.
  • The under-wing coverts are grey-blue. The upperside of the wings is dark green, the underside is lighter. The flight feathers are black.
  • The forehead, lores (the regions between the eyes and bill on the side of a bird's head), cheeks and the part under the bill is brown-black. The back of head is a dirty olive.
  • The breast and one part of throat is yellow. On most of them orange-red feathers can be seen on the upper chest.
  • The tail is green and the outer tail feathers are edged with an orange-yellow band.

• Eyes: White ring encircles both eyes. The irises are brown. Beak is redLegs and feet are grey
• Hybrids between Fischer's Lovebirds and Masked Lovebirds are also quote common in captivity and have also occurred in feral populations. They are reddish-brown on the head and orange on the upper chest, but otherwise resemble the Masked Lovebird.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Besides the normal green coloration, there are several striking mutations:

• • blue-mutation (referred to as "Blue Masked Lovebirds - blue describing the body color, rather than the mask color. The mask is black - as it is in the normal green color)
  • yellow
  • albino