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Blue Masked Lovebird

Agapornis p. personata var.

Family: PsittacidaeAgapornis personataPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   A pretty little parrot, Blue Masked Lovebird makes an adorable pet. It is a most playful, charming and amusing companion...an excellent bird for the beginner!

   The Blue Masked Lovebird is a favorite color variety of the Masked Lovebird. Though easily bred in captivity, this attractive variation also occurs naturally in the wild.

   Friendly and easy to care for, the Blue Masked Lovebird will make a delightful and enjoyable addition to any household. They are relatively hardy and are easy to breed, making them every bit as good a pet as the Peach-faced Lovebird. Some even suggest that they may be a bit calmer, though others say they are just as mischievous.

   Typical of all the lovebirds, the Blue Masked Lovebird is very social and loves companionship. Their natural behavior is to live closely with a companion so are often kept with another lovebird. Though they make a very fine and affectionate pet when hand-raised, they will need a lot of attention if kept singly. Most are kept in pairs to satisfy their considerable need for constant companionship, mutual preening, and socialization.

For more information and the care of Lovebirds see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Lovebird

Geographic Distribution Agapornis personata Data provided by GBIF.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

Scientific Name: Agapornis personata personata var.

Description:    The Blue Masked Lovebird is the best known color mutation of the Masked Lovebird, and this variety occurs naturally in the wild as well as in captivity. It is very attractive with a black head, blue body, and a white collar around the neck and on the upper breast.
   All the Masked Lovebird mutations have a black 'mask' and their names refer to their body coloring, in this case 'blue'. Other color mutations include the Green Masked Lovebird which is also very common, and other more uncommon varieties such as the medium blue (cobalt) and the dark blue (slate).

Size - Weight:    The Blue Masked Lovebird will get up to about 6" (14.5 - 15. 5 cm) in length.

Care and feeding:    A roomy cage is required as lovebirds are very active. If you have a tame pet that is kept in a small cage, it needs to be let out for extended periods to fly about. Your pet they will enjoy a variety of seeds, fruits, vegetables, and commercial pellets.
   See About Lovebirds: Housing and About Lovebirds: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:    A lovebird is a very social bird with it's companion, and it is generally thought to be essential for their good health and happiness that they be kept in pairs rather than singly. They can, however, be aggressive towards other birds in an aviary setting.

Activities:    Loves to fly, climb, and play. Provide lots of room and lots of toys.

Breeding/Reproduction:    The Blue Masked Lovebird is excellent for the beginning breeder. These birds will breed as either single pairs or in colonies, and have the same behaviors as the Masked Lovebird. When you provide them with a nest box be sure to also provide lots of willow twigs, strips of bark, or other nesting materials.
   The hen will lay three to four eggs which are incubated for about 21 to 23 days. The young fledge (leave the nest) in about 44 to 45 days. When they become independent, remove the young to their own housing.
    See About Lovebirds: Breeding/Reproduction for more information on breeding.

Potential Problems:    This bird has a high pitched twittering and though not as loud as some parrots, it can be rather noisy for parts of the day.
   See About Lovebirds: Potential Problems for information on illnesses.

Availability:   The Blue Masked Lovebird is very popular and is readily available.

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS

Lastest Comments on Blue Masked Lovebird View all 18 comments on Blue Masked Lovebird Add Your Comment

Shereen - 2011-12-17 How can I provide my birds Calcium?? Shall I feed them with well-Boiled egg shells?? -They are a couple one is Blue masked and the other is Black masked Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-12-17 You can feed them scrambled eggs and just leave the shell in. They usually love that. You can also buy a cuttlebone and just put it in the cage or they have flavored calcium blocks. Reply

Shereen - 2011-12-08 Hi, I have bought a pair of lovebirds, the female is Blue masked and the male is Black masked. they are very scared. whenever I got near the cage they getting worried and mainly the male fly to some of the corner of the cage. Is this normal behavior? Regarding their diet, I eat only seed, I had offered them apples and Carrot but they didn't touch it. However I have read that they love fruits and vegetables!! why is that?? I was told not to add the wooden box -where they suppose to lay eggs- right away, I should give them time to get used to the cage before doing so, Is this right?? BTW they aged more than a one year. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-12-08 They seem to be paired bond and I would set up thenest box as it is better they have the nest box. They if they breed the eggs wil just be laid somewhere in the cage without bedding. But they would be protective of their territory and of course if you put your hand in their safe place they think King Kong As far as fruits and vegatables they need to get used to them. I would try things like cheerios or cooked macoroni. Chicken those are things that they take to easier and fruits and veggies many don't like them. Reply

Rhea KImmons - 2011-07-12 Our friend just found a blue masked lovebird in his backyard. Stays and comes to eat food he puts out. If it was a paired bird, what are the chances of finding where it came from. He has asked all the neighbors. Can they fly from quite a distance? Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-07-12 They usually stick around home but they can go miles and miles. Another problem is it could have flown out of a car or an RV. Also,it may not have had a mate. The chances of finding a birds owner is pretty rare.... unless it is less common bird and identified in some way. If you put it in the paper, you can have 100 calls all saying the bird belongs to them. Not fair but it happens. You can try though. It is difficult. Can you catch it? - pick it up and bring it on home. Reply

Robin Hirsch - 2011-06-21 I have a blue masked lovebird who just lost his mate of 3 years. He is healthy - can he be "remated" safely? He is 3 yrs old. I have their babies (5) distributed in 3 other cages so he's not alone - just looks lonely. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-06-21 Yes, he will accept and cherish another mate. Easiest way to introduce a new mate is to put the new mate in a cage next to your existing blue masked. Allow them a couple of weeks to get to know each other and play with each other on neutral territory. Then when you see they get along, just put them together. Reply

mueez butt - 2011-05-12 My name is Mueez Butt and I have a blue masked love birds. Can you tell me how to breed? Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-05-12 Hi, click on the article regarding the blue masked lovebirds and that will provide you with some information. In the article there is another link for breeding lovebirds and that will give you more information. Sexual maturity ocurs at about a year old so you can't expect too much before then. You need 2 nest boxes - one for her to lay the eggs and one for them to sleep in. They won't sit the eggs until all the eggs are laid. You need to place nesting materials inside the cage so they can build their nest. Spring is usally breeding season so when spring comes give them lots of different kinds of food, seed, vegatables, scrambled eggs, calcium block etc. It might take one or two clutches before they getting the sitting and feeding down so don't get dissapointed. They will get it. Read the information in the two articles and if you have additional questions, write me back. OK? Reply

Jahanzaib Bhatti - 2011-04-12 Dear Concern I have just bought a blue mask love bird on last sunday. Since they have been moved to their new cage, I think they haven't eaten anything so far and they want stay inside the pot most of the time. They are of mature age and I think they are shy from other birds I have. They are in a cage which is in partition having one side with budgies. I am quite tense about it why they are not having feed? Are they shy from us or other birds. What will be best feed from them? Your kind guidance in this regard will be appreciated highly. Regards Jahanzaib Bhatti Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-04-12 My birds would go off food a few days prior to breeding. I would get so nervous and worried but they wouldn't eat and I'd think the worst. Then there would be eggs. It took me a few times to catch on and over a year before I wasn't worried anymore. This could be what is happening. Also, new cage and new scents and sounds could change their behaviors for a little while. Did you quarantine the birds? Parakeets can carry diseases that other birds are not immune to. Just is a fact - not that yours do or you don't take care of them, just that they are immune to certain things that other birds are not. I hope your love birds have just decidd to do the lovely thing and all is well. Millet, crunched up hard boiled egg, spinach, scrambled eggs are usually favorites. Jahanzaib Bhatti - 2011-04-27 Thanks for the reply dear. As you said, they have laid eggs and since then the female is hatching them. I don't know exactly the numbers of eggs but they are still pretty much shy. They don't come out of the pot when I stand in front of the cage. I have made the setup on the terrace of my house and there are so many other birds like cocktails, budgies and finches in different cages over there. I am scared that due to their shyness, they wont get the chicks from their eggs as I have heard that they won't lay eggs in this season. Your kind expertise in this regard is required. Thanks You Jahanzaib Reply

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