Agapornis Personata

Above: Our pet lovebird from when we lived in Mexico. Note the faint black mask typical of juvenile birds.

Scientific name: Agapornis personata
Family: Psittacidae
Order: Psittaciformes
Class: Aves

The Black-Masked Lovebird is native to northeastern Tanzania in Africa. They inhabit dry wooded areas usually near bodies of water. This bird weighs around 50 grams and measures only six inches in length, but despite it’s small size it is a member of the parrot family known as the “eye ring” species due to the white skin around each eye.  They are a long-lived species for their size, with an average lifespan of 20 years. It’s name describes the bird well: Agapornis: from the Greek word agape meaning “love”, and ornis meaning “bird”.  They were so named due to their extremely affectionate nature. It is a common sight, even in the wild, to see two Lovebirds snuggling with each other while perched on a branch. During the breeding season, the nests are made by the females and the three to six eggs are incubated for about twenty-three days. The mother continues to care for the hatchlings until they leave the nest at about six weeks of age. The father then takes over the feeding of the young birds for another two weeks or so until they reach adulthood.