The grey-headed lovebird belongs to the family Psittaculidae. These birds can be very noisy, particularly when they are found in the wild in flocks of up to 30 birds.
Grey-headed lovebirds can occasionally be seen in Madagascar in the company of Madagascar red fodies. They feed on grains of harvested rice. They often rest on leafless branches of large trees.
Grey-headed lovebirds are also known as ‘inseparables’. The name stems from the behaviour of these small parrots: grey-headed lovebirds remain together until one partner dies, cuddle a great deal and preen each other very frequently. They are, so to speak, inseparable.
Grey-headed lovebirds nest in tree hollows on a thin layer of leaves. They usually lay three eggs.
The grey-headed lovebird is endemic to Madagascar, but has also been introduced to the surrounding islands (the Comoros, the Seychelles, Rodrigues) and to Zanzibar. Grey-headed lovebirds are caught in Madagascar and kept as cage birds. However, they are still relatively common.
Taxonomy
Psittaculidae, Agapornis (9 species)
Habitat
bushy grasslands, forest edges, cultivated landscapes up to 1,500 metres above sea level
Migratory behaviour
sedentary
Social structure
monogamous, in flocks of up to 30 birds, sometimes together with other bird species
