If you are looking to adopt a pet that would fill your days with a happy chirping and give you tons of positive energy, lovebirds just might be the perfect option. These lovely birds make for a great pet, even for beginners getting their first parrot ever!
If you choose a parrot wisely, you can get the perfect pet for your budget and lifestyle. Even among lovebirds, several types differ in more than their coloring. Of course, you are free to choose whatever color you prefer, but pay attention to other factors as well.
So, here’s a list of all the types of lovebirds you can choose from. Luckily, it’s relatively shorter than the whopping 300+ kinds of parrot overall. With it, I hope you’ll be able to find the best bird and learn everything about its peculiarities. Those differences are minor, but they are vital when choosing a pet. They include bird lifespan, size, appearance, character traits, and so on.
I’m sure you can find one type to your liking, at least.
Note: You can also check the previous articles on:
Rosy-Faced Lovebird
This type of lovebird is defined by the loveliest rosy-peach on their cheeks. Besides that, there’s not a spec of another color than green on their bodies except for their tails with deep blue ends.
These are the African desert birds. Thus, they require warm temperatures at your home, but nothing as drastic as UVB lights for reptiles. As you remember from the previous article, parrots are warm-blooded and can regulate their temperature on their own. Just don’t place them near an open window in winter.
Lifespan: these birds typically live for 12-15 years which is, sadly, significantly less than the bigger birds like Macaws or cockatoos.
Size: rosy-faced lovebirds are tiny, just like all lovebirds – only 5-6 inches and up to 2 ounces of weight. Thus, you can buy an average cage and place two of the birds inside.
Character: these parrots have such a gentle name; they are little trouble-makers. They are kind, though, and are just lively and mischievous. These are curious parrots! Be ready as they will explore all the details of their surroundings. They like to have toys in the cage that would keep them busy.
Fischer’s Lovebird
These two lovebirds should be placed together both in this list and in life for you to notice the slight differences between them. Fisher’s lovebirds are also rosy-cheeked; they spot more diversity in colors on their head. They also have a bright red spot around their beak, and peach fades into yellow on their necks. Also, the bright colors cover larger areas on their head and neck. The rest of the body is also green with dark grey on the tail feather’s ends.
This type also originates from Africa but is indigenous to Tanzanian forests and savannas.
Lifespan: unfortunately, these birds also live only 12-15 years. It only means that you have to love them all the more!
Size: Fisher’s lovebirds are just the exact size of the rosy-face ones: 5-6 inches, up to 1.7 ounces.
Character: these are also lively and energetic creatures, but they are a bit gentler overall, making them perfect for a family with kids.
Lilian’s Lovebird
This is a lovebird of the standard colors: green, yellow, and peach. Just imagine a rosy-cheeked lovebird and add a ring of yellow on the neck as the peachy cheeks transition to the green body. That’s quite similar to Fischer’s variety, right? However, Lilian’s have a more yellowish and green top of their head, while the previous type features more of a rosy/peach head overall.
Though these are endemic to several African countries, this is an endangered species. Thus, I’m not sure you can find this parrot in a pet shop. But if you manage to acquire it finally, make sure to spend every second with it as the parrot is mostly endangered because of its short lifespan.
Lifespan: only a bit over 10 years.
Size: this is one of the smallest lovebirds you can find; its size doesn’t go over 5 inches. And weighs it a bit over an ounce!
Character: in the wild, they are feisty and active birds; those who’ve managed to acquire them as pets also report a demanding character. Be sure to recognize what it needs.
Red-Headed Lovebird
From afar, a red-headed lovebird can be confused with some of its other relatives. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that it has a brighter red “hemisphere” that covers the front part of their head, not only cheeks and not rosy or peachy. The rest of its body is green. You can only see some spots of red or blue on the ends of tail feathers.
This type of lovebirds is numerous and can be found all over Africa. The whopping numbers are probably the result of a rather long lifespan compared to the majority of lovebirds. Thus, they would be the perfect long-term small parrot companions for you!
Lifespan: up to 20 years! This is an impressive number for lovebirds
Size: 6 inches in length, 1.5 ounces in weight.
Character: playful and active! Red-headed lovebirds are energetic creatures that demand lots and lots of attention from their owners. Considering that they are highly sociable birds, so don’t leave them alone for long to avoid depression and stress!
Yellow-Collared Lovebird
The name is telling – this parrot has a lovely collar of yellow around its neck. It reaches a bit to their neck, where it shades into dark grey, almost black. The rest of their body is green. However, the cutest part of their coloring is an entirely red bill with a slim white stripe on at the base. The eyering is also white!
These parrots are native to Tanzania as well.
Lifespan: around 10 to 20 years. Sadly, these birds have a wide lifespan range that can be a relatively short lifespan for parrots.
Size: in this department, they are exactly the same as most lovebirds: 5-6 inches in length and up to 2 ounces in weight.
Character: these little cuties are just as energetic as most lovebirds; they rather love attention! So, be sure to play with them regularly.
Black-Cheeked Lovebird
This type of lovebird has calmer colors than many other lovebird kinds. As you’ve probably already guessed, they have black spots on their cheeks – right around the bill and eyes. Their general body color is green. However, they also have beautiful patches of orange and green on the neck! The beak is primarily black with a whitish base ring. Personally, I find the addition of black cheeks and a calmer coloring appealing!
They are endemic to Zambia but today can also be found in the neighboring countries.
Lifespan: the birds’ lifespan is average for lovebirds – 13/14 years.
Size: it’s average as well: 5.5 inches and just under 1.5 ounces.
Character: This is probably the calmest lovebird of all; it’s gentle, docile, and prefers quiet surroundings. Thus, I strongly advise against setting the cage right near a busy city street.
Black-Collared Lovebird
This is an interesting parrot that is mostly green except for one particular spot – a black band on its neck from behind. To me, it almost looks like a tie on their neck! What does it look like to you?
This is an endemic species to Africa as well.
Unfortunately, you can hardly find this parrot in captivity because of its fiery need for a native fig. It’s a rare sight that is most seen around similar climates and flora. Actually, if you manage to find it in your country, I have no idea what to do with the fig situation.
Lifespan: considering the wide locale of their distribution and the rarity of captive breeding, the estimated lifespan ranges from 10 to 15 years.
Size: this is a small lovebird around 5 inches long. It weighs around 1.5 pounds (can go up to 1.8 ounces).
Character: these are shy birds; they hide high above in the canopy and rarely greet people. Overall, it would be a fantastic calm parrot to be a gentle companion if only you had access to the required food.
Black-Winged Lovebird
Contrary to your expectations, this type doesn’t have fully black wings that would make them dark and mysterious. It’s just a black trim along the edges of a parrot’s wings. Yes, it was a bit underwhelming for me as well. However, the bird also has cool-looking black legs and a red spot about its red bill! The rest is, as usual, green. Overall, this parrot has enough unusual features to be distinct but not too intense!
This type is endemic to Ethiopia.
Lifespan: slightly above average – 15-16 years; that’s a good choice long-time.
Size: black-winged parrots are slightly bigger than average lovebirds. They overgrow 6 inches and can reach around 6.5 inches. Their weight is 2 ounces.
Character: these parrots demand your attention constantly! They are very social and active. Thus, I would recommend getting them in a pair or a group, so they don’t feel so lonely while you are at work or busy. And ensure that they have small toys.
Grey-Headed Lovebird
A grey-headed lovebird is one of the most distinct in an appearance on this list. It’s not as standardized as its relatives. Its body is usually colored green, while the neck and head are either dark or pale grey. Thus the name. You won’t see a single bright spot on it (well, not counting the general green). If you want a distinctive-looking lovebird, this is your best option.
This is also one of the rarer parrots, as it’s found only in Madagascar.
Lifespan: 16 years – the perfect middle if you take into account the collective lovebird lifespan average.
Size: this is the smallest lovebird on the list – just under 5 inches! The weight, accordingly, is only about an ounce. So, you can easily fit a required cage in any flat!
Character: grey-headed lovebirds are a bit calmer than their continental relatives. They are still curious and loving but in a milder way. They’ll be perfect for a family with kids but should be handled with care due to their small size.
Choose Right!
Now, these are all the main types of lovebirds that I wanted to discuss. As you see, they have their small differences in more than appearance. However, there’s nothing wrong with choosing a cute-looking parrot. Lovebirds have mostly green bodies, but their necks and heads often shine bright with red, peach, and rosy. Some are alluring by the grey and black spots!
When choosing a parrot, you should also pay attention to its lifespan. Do you want a long-time companion or prefer the other way around? Also, note the possible lovebird prices and maintenance costs I’ve mentioned before!
Mostly, lovebirds are active and playful birds. However, even among them, there are calmer and shier types that would love you just as fiercely but keep quiet overall.
