Masked Lovebird
Latin name
Agapornis personatus
Common names
Masked Lovebird
Description
The most noticable feature of this species is the dark brown, almost black mask which covers the whole head, with contrasting red beak and white eyering.
Mutations:
There are many colour mutations, the popular blue was the first. The white is in fact a dilute blue. The Yellow is a dilution of the green, the pied and the cinnamon. The introduction of the dark factor means cobalt and mauve mutations are also available. The list of colour mutations is constantly increasing.
Size
Length 14cm (5.5 inches)
Age at maturity
Lifespan
Distribution
Northeast Tanzania
Personality
Housing
Feeding
Breeding
They are hardy and reliable breeders given a strongly built nestbox, even in temperate climates. Give them plenty of nest building materials including twigs and leaves. The clutch size is usually 3 to 5 eggs which are incubated for about 23 days. The chicks fledge at 6 weeks old and develope their adult plumage at about 4 months old.
Availability
General notes
This is a popular species that first came to aviculture in the early 20th centuary. The blue mutation was the first colour mutation to be established amoung all the lovebird species.
Living with this parrot
Video clips
Pictures
References and further reading