Lovebird is the common name for the genus Agapornis, a small group of parrots in the Old World parrot family Psittaculidae. Of the nine species in the genus, all are native to the African continent, with the grey-headed lovebird being native to the African island of Madagascar.
The budgerigar, also known as the common parakeet, shell parakeet or budgie, is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot. Naturally, the species is green and yellow with black, scalloped markings on the nape, back, and wings. Budgies are bred in captivity with colouring of blues, whites, yellows, greys, and even with small crests. Juveniles and chicks are monomorphic, while adults are told apart by their cere colouring, and their behaviour.
The cockatiel, also known as the weero/weiro or quarrion, is a medium-sized parrot that is a member of its own branch of the cockatoo family endemic to Australia. They are prized as household exotic bird pets and companion parrots throughout the world and are relatively easy to breed compared to other parrots. As a caged bird, cockatiels are second in popularity only to the budgerigar.
The blue-fronted amazon, also called the blue-fronted parrot, the turquoise-fronted amazon and the turquoise-fronted parrot, is a South American species of amazon parrot and one of the most common amazon parrots kept in captivity as a pet or companion parrot. Its common name is derived from the distinctive blue/turquoise marking on its head just above its beak.
Lilian's lovebird, also known as the Nyasa lovebird, is a small African parrot species of the lovebird genus. It is mainly green and has orange on its upper chest and head. It is 13 cm (5 inches) long and is the smallest parrot on mainland Africa. In captivity, it is uncommon and difficult to breed.
Fischer's lovebird is a small parrot species of the genus Agapornis. They were originally discovered in the late 19th century. They are named after German explorer Gustav Fischer.
The science of budgerigar color genetics deals with the heredity of mutations which cause color variation in the feathers of the species known scientifically as Melopsittacus undulatus. Birds of this species are commonly known by the terms 'budgerigar', or informally just 'budgie'.
The yellow-collared lovebird, also called masked lovebird, black-masked lovebird or eye ring lovebird, is a monotypic species of bird of the lovebird genus in the parrot family Psittaculidae. They are native to Arusha Region of Tanzania and have been introduced to Burundi and Kenya. 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. They have also been observed in Arizona.
The red-headed lovebird, also known as the red-faced lovebird, is a member of the genus Agapornis, a group commonly known as lovebirds. Like other lovebirds it is native to Africa.
The gray-headed lovebird or Madagascar lovebird is a small species of parrot of the lovebird genus. It is a mainly green parrot. The species is sexually dimorphic and only the adult male has grey on its upper body. They are native on the island of Madagascar and are the only lovebird species which are not native on the African continent. They are the smallest of the lovebird species. It is rarely seen in aviculture and it is difficult to breed in captivity.
A feral parrot is a parrot that has adapted to life in an ecosystem to which it is not native. The birds are often descended from pets that have escaped or been deliberately released. Many species of parrots are highly social, and like to gather in large flocks. Not all feral parrots are able to adapt to life outside of captivity, although having a pre-existing nearby parrot colony can assist with the adaptation process.
The science of rosy-faced lovebird colour genetics deals with the heredity of colour variation in the feathers of the species known as Agapornis roseicollis, commonly known as the rosy-faced lovebird or peach-faced lovebird.
The science of cockatiel colour genetics deals with the heredity of colour variation in the feathers of cockatiels, Nymphicus hollandicus. Colour mutations are a natural but very rare phenomenon that occur in either captivity or the wild. About fifteen primary colour mutations have been established in the species which enable the production of many different combinations. Note that this article is heavily based on the captive or companion cockatiel rather than the wild cockatiel species.
Parrots (Psittaciformes), also known as psittacines, are birds with a strong curved beak, upright stance, and clawed feet. They are classified in four families that contain roughly 410 species in 101 genera, found mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. The four families are the Psittaculidae, Psittacidae, Cacatuoidea (cockatoos), and Strigopidae. One-third of all parrot species are threatened by extinction, with a higher aggregate extinction risk than any other comparable bird group. Parrots have a generally pantropical distribution with several species inhabiting temperate regions as well. The greatest diversity of parrots is in South America and Australasia.
The red-suffusion rose-faced lovebird, also known as the red-pied lovebird, is not a true colour mutation of lovebird species. Many breeders believe it is due to a health issue, most likely dealing with the bird's liver. Some think the red-pied has some genetic relations with the Lutino rosy-faced lovebird mutation, as many cases of red spots appear in Lutino lovebirds. Although many breeders of parrots have claimed that this is a genetic mutation, no one has been able to successfully reproduce it through a series of generations.
The lutino peach-faced love bird is one of the most popular mutations of rosy-faced lovebird. It is closely followed by the Dutch blue lovebird in popularity.
Agapornithinae is a subfamily of psittacine birds, one of the five subfamilies that make up the family Psittaculidae. Its members are small, short-tailed parrots that inhabit Africa and Asia. They usually have predominantly green plumage and present different colorations on the head.
The lutino cockatiel is one of the most popular mutations of cockatiel, with white to light-yellow feathers and orange/red cheek patches.
The white-faced cockatiel is one of the cockatiel colour genetic mutations, with a mostly white or grayish face. They stand out because they have no orange cheek patches or yellow coloring at all. This is the seventh established mutation which appeared for the first time with domesticated cockatiels in 1964 in Holland.
Dirk Van den Abeele is a Flemish ornithologist, specializing in the genus Agapornis. He has written a number of books on this subject. Most of his books have been translated into English, Greek, Spanish, French, Czech, Italian and German. Since 1999, Van den Abeele is a member of MUTAVI, Research & Advice Group in The Netherlands, where he is conducting research, together with Inte Onsman, into pigmentation of the various colour mutations in birds. Together with the Australian veterinarian Terry Martin he collaborated on the 'International Agreements for Naming Colour Mutations in Psittaciformes'. He was chairman of BVA International, the Belgian Lovebird Society from 1999 till December 2010. Since 2011 he is honorary chairman of BVA-International.
