Agapornis roseicollis (*)
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Telluraves
Cladus: Australaves
Ordo: Psittaciformes
Familia: Psittaculidae
Subfamilia: Agapornithinae
Genus: Agapornis
Species: Agapornis roseicollis
Name
Agapornis roseicollis (Vieillot, 1818)
Vernacular names
English: Rosy-faced Lovebird
فارسی: طوطی برزیلی
suomi: Persikkakaijanen
français: Inséparable rosegorge
日本語: コザクラインコ
Nederlands: Perzikkop dwergpapegaai
norsk: Rosenhodet dvergpapegøye
русский: Розовощёкий неразлучник
中文（简体）: 桃脸牡丹鹦鹉
The rosy-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), also known as the rosy-collared or peach-faced lovebird, is a species of lovebird native to arid regions in southwestern Africa such as the Namib Desert. A loud and constant chirper, these birds are very social animals and often congregate in small groups in the wild. They eat throughout the day and take frequent baths. Coloration can vary widely among populations. Plumage is identical in males and females. Lovebirds are renowned for their sleep position in which they sit side-by-side and turn their faces in towards each other. Also, females are well noted to tear raw materials into long strips, "twisty-tie" them onto their backs, and fly substantial distances back to make a nest. They are common in the pet industry.
Taxonomy
It was described by the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1818. It was originally named Psittacus roseicollis but later moved to the genus Agapornis with the other lovebirds.
Two subspecies are recognised:[2]
Agapornis roseicollis, (Vieillot, 1818)
Agapornis roseicollis catumbella, B.P. Hall, 1952 - Angola[3]
Agapornis roseicollis roseicollis, (Vieillot 1818) - Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa[3]
Description
The rosy-faced lovebird is a fairly small bird, 17–18 cm long with an average wing length of 106 mm and tail length of 44–52 mm.[4] Wild birds are mostly green with a blue rump. The face and throat are pink, darkest on the forehead and above the eye. The bill is horn coloured, the iris is brown and the legs and feet are grey. The pink of the A. r. roseicollis is lighter than of the A. r. catumbella.[3] Juvenile birds have a pale pink face and throat, a greenish fore crown and crown, and the beak has a brownish base.[3]
Distribution and habitat
It inhabits dry, open country in southwest Africa. Its range extends from southwest Angola across most of Namibia to the lower Orange River valley in northwest South Africa. It lives up to 1,600 metres above sea-level in broad-leaved woodland, semi-desert, and mountainous areas. It is dependent on the presence of water sources and gathers around pools to drink.
Escapes from captivity are frequent in many parts of the world and feral birds dwell in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, where they live in a variety of habitats, both urban and rural. Some dwell in cacti and others have been known to frequent feeders in decent sized flocks.[5] Temperatures in Arizona regularly exceed 40°C and the feral lovebirds have been observed perching in large numbers on air conditioner vents in order to remain cool.[6] Although they have been observed in the wild in Puerto Rico, they are probably the result of escaped pets, and no reproduction has been recorded.[7]
Status and conservation
Populations have been reduced in some areas by trapping for the pet trade. However, numbers may have increased in other areas due to human creation of new water sources and the building of artificial structures which provide new nesting sites. Because of this, the species is classed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).[1]
Behaviour in the wild
Flock in Namibia
The rosy-faced lovebird has various harsh, shrieking calls.
Feeding
The diet mainly consists of seeds and berries. When food is plentiful, it may gather in flocks containing hundreds of birds. It can sometimes be a pest in agricultural areas feeding on crops such as millet.
Breeding
Eggs, Collection Museum Wiesbaden
Lovebirds are monomorphic, meaning the male and female of the species look alike. The nest is built in a rock crevice or within a compartment of the large communal nests built by sociable weavers. Man-made structures such as the roofs of houses may also be used. A total of 4-6 eggs are laid between February and April. They are dull white and measure 23.5 mm by 17.3 mm. They are incubated for about 23 days. The young birds fledge after 43 days.[4]
Aviculture
Rosy-faced lovebirds are one of the more common parrots kept in captivity, because of their small size and ease of care and breeding. The birds are kept alone or in pairs , although due to their social requirements, they are best kept in pairs . They can be aggressive, and tend to bond towards an individual, either human or avian, and may not get on well with other people or pets. Two lovebirds may not always get along, and may have to be separated, and lovebirds should not be kept with smaller species of birds. Lovebirds require daily exercise.
Mutations
Main article: Rosy-faced lovebird colour genetics
Rosy-faced lovebirds have the widest range of colour mutations of all the Agapornis genus. Generally speaking, these mutations fall into the genetic categories of dominant, codominant, recessive, and Sex-linked recessive. While this seems fairly straightforward, it can quickly become confusing when a single specimen has multiple examples of these mutational traits.
References
Citations
BirdLife International (2018). "Agapornis roseicollis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22685342A131916302. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22685342A131916302.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
"Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Psittaciformes (Version 9.004)". www.zoonomen.net. 2008-07-05.
Forshaw (2006). plate 45.
McLachlan G. R. & Liversidge, R. (1981) Roberts Birds of South Africa, John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town. ISBN 0-620-03118-2
Clark, Greg. "Peach-faced Lovebird Range Expansion Data in Greater Phoenix, Arizona Area". Retrieved 2011-02-27.
GrrlScientist. "How Lovebirds Keep Their Cool When It's Really Hot". Forbes. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
Falcón, Wilfredo; Tremblay, Raymond L. (2018). "From the cage to the wild: introductions of Psittaciformes to Puerto Rico". PeerJ. 6:e5669: e5669. doi:10.7717/peerj.5669. PMC 6214232. PMID 30397538. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
Cited texts
Forshaw, Joseph M. (2006). Parrots of the World; an Identification Guide. Illustrated by Frank Knight. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-09251-6.
General references
"Species factsheet: Agapornis roseicollis". BirdLife International (2008). Retrieved 9 July 2008.
Burt, D.W.; White, S.J. (July 2007). "Avian Genomics in the 21st Century". Cytogenetic and Genome Research. 117 (1–4: Avian Genomics in Evolution, Agriculture and Health). doi:10.1159/000103159. ISBN 978-3-8055-8338-1.
Rosy-faced Lovebird Bird Observations, Jan–Dec, 2003–2011, eBird.org
Luft, Stefan (2007). Parrots of Africa (1st ed.). Norderstedt, Germany: Books On Demand. ISBN 978-3-8334-8445-2. OCLC 176931136.
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