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No federal permit to keep

Rosy-faced lovebird

Agapornis roseicollis

Birds › Parrots (Psittaciformes) › Psittacidae (Parrots and parakeets)

The rosy-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), also known as the rosy-collared or peach-faced lovebird, is a species of lovebird native to the Namibian savanna woodlands.

Pet trade

Experience: Easy

FamilyParrots and parakeets

Adult weight54.5 g

Kept byPet trade

Care at a glance

Species-specific values

Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.

Minimum cage dimensions	length: 20 in; width: 20 in; height: 30 in Table cage minimum; exercise space additional.	316
Maximum bar spacing	0.5 in	316
Diet pellet fraction	40–50 % MSD small-pet-bird recommendation; incompatible with higher VCA recommendation, retained separately. Source does not specify dry-weight versus offered-food basis.	317
Diet pellet fraction	75–80 % VCA lovebird recommendation; retained separately from MSD. Source does not specify dry-weight versus offered-food basis.	321

Care guide

Group care guide

Lovebirds

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: African savanna and woodland. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

A roomy cage with toys to shred; nest boxes trigger breeding, so add one only if you plan to breed.

Sources 120 121 317 321

Diet

Use a balanced lovebird diet with vegetables and limited fruit. Veterinary sources give different pellet/seed proportions; retain both recommendations and convert gradually.

Sources 120 121 317 321

Social life

Pairs or single birds with lots of attention.

Sources 120 121 317 321

Health watch

Can be aggressive toward other bird species; mixed-species aviaries are risky.

Sources 120 121 317 321

Understanding the animal

About this animal

Loud and constant chirpers, these birds are very social animals and often congregate in small groups in the wild. They eat throughout the day and take frequent baths.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Rosy-faced lovebird” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

Researched for this exact species, not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹

Where it lives	Native to southwestern Africa from northwestern South Africa through Namibia into southwestern Angola. Uses dry woodland and desert-edge country where trees occur near permanent water.
Ground it lives on	Dry open soil beneath sparse trees for fallen-seed feeding; also feeds and roosts above ground
Climate	Hot, arid conditions, with cooler periods when birds huddle to conserve heat. Numeric native-range air temperature and relative-humidity ranges were not established in the sources used.
Active	Diurnal, sleeping at night in sheltered nests.
Social life	Strong pair bonds within flocks commonly numbering 5–20; larger gatherings occur at ripe seed supplies. Females can dominate pair interactions.
Wild diet	Seeds gathered from plants or ground, including Acacia and Albizia; flowers and their reproductive parts.
Behavior to plan for	Uses sociable-weaver and sparrow-weaver nests for shelter. Females carry cut nesting strips tucked into rump feathers; birds climb with feet and beak.

What this means for care

Prioritize compatible social companionship and sheltered roosting.
Provide plant and ground-level seed-foraging opportunities.
Keep drinking water continuously available despite the dry habitat.
Offer safe shreddable plant material and climbing branches.

Animal Diversity Web: Agapornis roseicollis

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 88°F (up to 106°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 41°F (down to 37°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	63–75°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	33–69% on average (driest month about 26%)
Rainfall	about 353 mm a year
Winters	Cool to cold winters (lows around 41°F) in much of its native range. Seasonal slowdown may be relevant, but species-specific biology determines whether brumation or hibernation occurs.

Measured at 107 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The rosy-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), also known as the rosy-collared or peach-faced lovebird, is a species of lovebird native to the Namibian savanna woodlands. Loud and constant chirpers, 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. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Agapornis roseicollis lives in dry regions near permanent standing water. — Animal Diversity Web
Wild diet	The diet consists mainly of seeds and berries. When food is plentiful, the birds may gather in flocks containing hundreds of individuals. They can sometimes be pests in agricultural areas, feeding on crops such as millet. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Behavior	Agapornis roseicollis is a very social bird. — Animal Diversity Web
Reproduction	In this species pair formation is very rapid and can occur at as early an age as two months. — Animal Diversity Web
Lifespan	The typical lifespan in captivity of A. roseicollis is 15 to 25 years. — Animal Diversity Web
Appearance and size	Agapornis roseicollis is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful lovebird species. — Animal Diversity Web
History and naming	It was described by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1818. It was originally named Psittacus roseicollis but later moved to the genus Agapornis with the other lovebirds. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
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). — Wikipedia (community-edited)

Data and studies

Researched care notes

Findings checked against veterinary, zoo, welfare, keeper and peer-reviewed sources. Air, basking-surface and water temperatures are kept separate, and where sources disagree both are shown. “Study” notes report what a paper measured, not a universal rule.

Budgerigars, Cockatiels, And Lovebirds (nutrition module, not completed species sheets)

Researched for this genus; applies to its species unless a species note says otherwise.

MSD discusses a mixed formulated-food/seed strategy for these small parrots, differing from its large-parrot percentages.¹
Offered food and selected food may differ. Measure actual consumption during diet changes.¹

Lovebirds

Researched for this genus; applies to its species unless a species note says otherwise.

Lovebirds can be territorial and may pursue larger animals; social boldness does not establish safe contact with other birds, dogs or cats.²

Budgerigar, Cockatiel And Lovebirds (Shared reproductive additions)

Researched for this genus; applies to its species unless a species note says otherwise.

Persistent laying can deplete calcium and lead to egg binding or other reproductive disease; it requires assessment beyond simply replacing a cuttlebone.³
For birds laying excessively, veterinary management can include reducing reproductive cues such as nest boxes, extended daylight and sexualized owner interactions.³
A weak or nonperching hen with straining or breathing difficulty may have egg binding and needs urgent veterinary attention.³

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Typical adult weight

Average of sources54.5g

AnAge 16254.8

Myhrvold et al. 16354.2

Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).

Clutch size

Average of sources5eggs

AnAge 1625

Myhrvold et al. 1635

Average per litter or clutch.

Incubation

Average of sources23days

AnAge 16223

Myhrvold et al. 16323

Female maturity

Average of sources8.4months

AnAge 1624.9

Myhrvold et al. 16311.9

Veterinary & husbandry research

Toxoplasmosis in a Pet Peach-Faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) Cooper MK et al., The Korean journal of parasitology 2015
Atypical Mycosis in Psittacine Birds: A Retrospective Study Galosi L et al., Frontiers in veterinary science 2022
Plasmodium matutinum Causing Avian Malaria in Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) Hosted in an Italian Zoo Cocumelli C et al., Microorganisms 2021
Bilateral osteoma cutis in a Peach-Faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) Pinzón-Osorio CA et al., The Journal of veterinary medical science 2020

Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 13 on PubMed → 170

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

USDA Animal Welfare Act (birds). Since USDA's 2023 bird standards, most commercial bird dealers and exhibitors (and many breeders who sell wholesale) need an Animal Welfare Act license, with some exemptions for small-scale breeders and retail sellers. Keeping your own pet bird doesn't. 184

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Animal Welfare Act standards

Birds (Subpart G). Applies to USDA-licensed or registered dealers, exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) and research facilities. Private pet owners are not covered. These are legal minimums, not best care; the species care on this page goes further.

Indoor air temperature, humidity and any pool or water-feature temperature must suit the species and prevent discomfort or distress. §3.151
Birds may not be housed outdoors unless acclimated to the local temperature and humidity. §3.152
Enclosures must let birds stay dry and clean, give shade for every bird at once (including low-ranking ones), and have floors and perches that protect feet and legs. §3.153
A species-appropriate environment enhancement plan is required, approved by the attending veterinarian: social grouping plus enrichment such as perches, swings, objects to manipulate, varied food and foraging or task-oriented feeding. §3.154
Socially dependent birds, such as clutch-mates, must be housed together unless the veterinarian exempts them; birds may only share space with compatible animals. §3.160
The diet must suit the species, size, age and condition of the bird, with potable water in sufficient quantity; pools and water features must be kept clean. §3.155

Source: 9 CFR Part 3, current eCFR text (USDA APHIS Animal Care).

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Included in our hand-checked list of animals kept as pets, livestock or in zoos
1160 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

Sources for this sheet

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources) Peer-reviewed researchCurated, referenced longevity and life-history records for thousands of species; maximum lifespans are often from zoo animals.
Myhrvold et al. (2015). An amniote life-history database. Ecology 96: 3109 Peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed compilation of life-history data for over 21,000 birds, mammals and reptiles.
9 CFR 2.1: Animal Welfare Act licensing (USDA) Zoo, university or veterinaryWho needs a USDA license to breed, sell or exhibit animals.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of pet birds Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of pet birds Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
MSD Veterinary Manual — Management of Pet Birds Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
VCA Animal Hospitals — Feeding Pet Lovebirds Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
Species+ (UNEP-WCMC and the CITES Secretariat) Zoo, university or veterinaryThe official database of species listed under CITES.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.

Rosy-faced lovebird

Care at a glance

Species-specific values

Care guide

Lovebirds

Housing & setup

Diet

Social life

Health watch

Understanding the animal

About this animal

In the wild

What this means for care

Native climate (measured)

From the sources

Data and studies

Researched care notes

Budgerigars, Cockatiels, And Lovebirds (nutrition module, not completed species sheets)

Lovebirds

Budgerigar, Cockatiel And Lovebirds (Shared reproductive additions)

The numbers

Typical adult weight

Clutch size

Incubation

Female maturity

Veterinary & husbandry research

Sources for this sheet

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