Gray-headed Lovebird
Latin name
Agapornis canus
Subspecies:
A. c. ablectanea
A. c. canus
Common names
Gray-headed Lovebird
Grey-headed Lovebird
Madagascar Lovebird
Lavender-headed Lovebird
Description
The Gray-headed Lovebird is sexually dimorphic, the male having the grey head.
Adult male: The male is the only grey headed lovebird. There is no bare eye-ring as with some other lovebird species. The entire head and neck of the male is grey, extending to the upper chest at the front. The back is a laurel green and the under parts a lime green. The beak and legs are a light horn colour.
Adult female: The female is the only all green lovebird with a white bill. The hen is the same as the cock, but lacks the grey head.
Juveniles: Same as the adults but duller.
A. c. canus: Adult male head, neck, and breast light grey; underwing-coverts black; tail green, the lateral feathers subterminally banded black; bill greyish white; iris dark brown; legs grey; wing 90-100mm. Adult female head, neck and breast green; underwing-coverts green. Juveniles like adults, but in male the head grey suffused green; bill yellowish with black at base.
A. c. ablectanea: Adults general plumage darker bluish green with noticeably less-yellowish tone; head and breast of male purer grey tinged violet.
Size
Length 14cm (5 1/2in)
Weight 25 - 28 grams (1 oz)
Age at maturity
Adult plumage and sexual maturity are reached at about 4 months of age.
Lifespan
Distribution
The Gray-headed Lovebird comes from Madagascar. It lives around the coastal regions up to 1000m, being seldom seen at the high central areas of the island. It is considered common in Madagascar and has been introduced to the smaller adjacent islands of Seychelles, Rodrigues, Reunion and Comoro Islands. Other introductions have failed. It is most widespread in lightly wooded habits, savannah grassland, semiarid scrubland, forest clearings, forest margins and cultivated land. It also visits towns and villages to pick up spilled grain.
A. c. canus is absent from the South-western arid zone, which is the habitat of A. c. ablectanea
Personality
A delightful little bird.
Calls include a shrill metallic call in flight and prior to roosting. Quiet chattering and high pitched alarm call.
Housing
The management for captive Gray-headed Lovebirds is the same as for other lovebirds species.
Feeding
They feed on seeds and fruits. In the wild they will feed mainly on the ground.
Breeding
Gray-headed Lovebirds are delicate and nervous when it comes to breeding in cages. The slightest thing will have them flapping in panic around their cage or breaking eggs by kicking them against the walls of the nest box. Therefore it is best to leave them to themselves as much as possible when breeding. However having said that there have been numerous successful cage breedings.
Supply the hen with a smaller than normal nest box with some shredded wood on the bottom. Her nest building abilities are very basic and she will only bring a few pieces of nesting material into the box herself.
A clutch consists of 3 - 7 eggs. Incubation takes 22 to 23 days. Both parents feed the chicks which will leave the nest at about 6 weeks of age.
It’s chequered history in aviculture, with only a few well established strains existing, make this a good species to specialise in. Pairs need to be wintered in heated quarters as the hen is especially delicate. Breeding this species is not recommended for beginners, unless they have the extra time and commitment to devote to them.
Availability
Gray-headed Lovebirds were first introduced into aviculture in the later half of the 1800s. The availability and value of the species has fluctuated a great deal ever since. These days they are not commonly seen in captivity due to export restrictions from their native country.
General notes
In the wild this species is a resident bird. It is noisy and gregarious usually forming flocks of around 30 individuals. They feed together on the ground and if disturbed will perch on tall grasses and low shrubs, but soon come back down to continue feeding. Sometimes they will be found feeding along with finches. They roost communally, often in dead or leafless trees.
Living with this parrot
Video clips
Pictures
References and further reading
This page was last modified on Sunday, March 22, 2009