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Dutch Blue Lovebird

Family: PsittacidaeAgapornis roseicollisPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy: Shakara

   A hand-raised Dutch Blue Lovebird is extremely affectionate and playful. They are an excellent bird for a beginner as they are friendly, hardy, and easy to care for! 

   The Dutch Blue Lovebird is a beautiful blue mutation of the Peach-faced Lovebird, and runs a close second in popularity to the lovely Lutino Lovebird, a yellow mutation of the Peach-faced. This little bird has all the wonderful charm and characteristics of the Peach-faced, being active, playful, and amusing. They are intelligent little birds and make a wonderful companion and friend.

   The Dutch Blue Lovebirds are very social and love 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 roseicollis Data provided by GBIF.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

Scientific Name: Agapornis roseicollis var.

Description:
   The Dutch Blue Lovebird is a mutation of the Peach-faced Lovebird. It is very similar to the Whitefaced Blue Lovebird as both these birds have a reduced amount of the red and yellow pigments in their feathers.
   The Dutch Blue Lovebird, which originated in Holland in about 1963, can be distinguished from the Whitefaced Blue as it has a slightly creamy colored face and a solid orange band across the forehead. While the Whitefaced Blue Lovebird, originating in the early 1980's, has a pure white face and only a faint (if any) orange tinge to it's forehead. Both birds have greenish-blue in the general plumage and bright blue feathers on the rump and onto the upper part of the tail.
   Another mutation that is very similar to the Dutch Blue Lovebird is the Seagreen Lovebird. It is half Dutch Blue and half Whitefaced Blue and has essentially the same head and facial coloration as the Dutch Blue, but has a more greenish general plumage.

Size - Weight:
   The Dutch Blue Lovebird will get up to about 6" - 7" (16 - 18 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 Dutch Blue Lovebird is excellent for the beginning breeder. These birds will breed well in either colonies or in a single pair, and have the same behaviors as the Peach-faced Lovebird. When you provide them with a nest box, be sure to also provide lots of willow twigs, palm fronds, or other nesting materials as they will build a small nest of their own inside of the nest box. They will carry the nesting materials between their back and rump feathers.
   The hen will lay four to five eggs which are incubated for about 23 days. The young fledge (leave the nest) in about 30 to 38 days but will still be dependent until about 43 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 moderate but metallic shriek and can be somewhat noisy for parts of the day.
   See About Lovebirds: Potential Problems for information on illnesses.

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

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS

Lastest Comments on Dutch Blue Lovebird View all 29 comments on Dutch Blue Lovebird Add Your Comment

Katrina Hahn - 2012-05-08 I have two peach face love birds who to say the least have been having fun! I am not sure if they are a pair but today she laid an egg in the nest! I sure hope I get some chicks. But what do I feed them I give them seed with egg shell in it also when I eat eggs I give them that too. But what other kind of food do I give them and how do I keep the nest moist for the young in Texas HELP PLEASE! Charlie Roche - 2012-05-08 You can place a bowl of water in the bottom of the cage. The mom will bathe in it (as needed) to add moisture to the nest. You can feed them anything you eat that is considered nutricious, meatloaf, chicken, tuna, apple, sweet potatoe etc. Reply

michael r - 2011-08-27 I adopted a Dutch Blue LoveBird when he was four weeks old and from hand feeding we built a strong bond, and then he built a strong bond with my Sun Conure too. My lovebird was amazing and so happy all the time, all he wanted to do was play and whenever I would sit in my recliner and watch tv he would sit on my stomach and just talk to me four hours. It's like he thought we talked the same language, which we kinda did to a point. I started understanding him alot more as tme went on. That lovebird was amazing and ever since he died its like a open hole or wound always there, he was so playful and fun its lonely without him and my sunconure is lonely at night now. I have a cockatial who gets along with the conure but she loves sleeping alone. The lovebird and sunconure cuddled everynight together. Anyways I never had my lovebird pluck any of its feathers like I see some of you people are mentioning. He was really happy and amazing and I would recomend a Lovebird to anyone who wants a little bird with big personality and that will love you. cocotte - 2011-10-03 I am so agree with you, my old lovebird (15 yo) loves me so much, now I am writing and he is inside my pyjama lol BOB - 2012-02-07 Hi Michael, I feel your pain, my Dutch Blue died last week after our 17 year friendship. We are all devastated as are my other birds who seem to be in mourning. My African Gray would always call out for our little Bing when she wasn't in sight but hasn't uttered her name since she passed over the rainbow. I haven't removed the cage from the bird room yet for fear of the reaction of the others, including me. I loved that bird dearly and miss her terribly, what a personality! Bob Reply

wizgem - 2011-12-21 I got 2 dutch blue lovebirds last summer, one with orange head and acting like male, the other with slightly grey chest and just a little hit of peach color on its head and receiving regurgitation from the male one since they arrived. Lately, I've seen the male one trying to mate with his mate, but the little one just would not let him. Does anyone have same experience and knows whether they are a couple or not? Charlie Roche - 2011-12-22 Animal World article on lovebirds Lovebirds and scroll down to the breeding/sexing information. The only way to be 100% sure is through DNA sexing. Read the information and look at the photo. For me the easiest visual cue isa the females head is a smooth arch from the eyes to the top of the head and over to the neck. The males head is flatter. This works much of the time. If you have two males it is not unusual for the alpha male to assume the male role and the second male to assume the role of a female. Obviously, this will not result in breeding just certain behaviors. Additionally, if the female isn't ready - it is her call and she will put the male off untill she is ready. Try and determine the sex if you can. If one lays an egg it is a female. Enjoy and have fun. Reply

Christoher - 2011-08-31 what kind of fruits and vegetabes do lovebirdslike to eat? Do lovebirds eat bread Toby Jungle - 2011-08-31 They eat all kinds of fruit and vegatables. I believe they like them just alittle on the softer side. Try microwave for a few seconds. I know they love them mixed in with scrambled eggs. Toby Jungle - 2011-08-31 Yes, love birds eat bread. It seems they really like it toasted - especialy with a little peanut butter Emi - 2011-12-15 Can lovebirds actually eat peanut butter because my 6 month old lovebird Kiki just landed her feet on some peanut butter and I'm worried if she eats it she'll get sick and she won't let me clean it off :( Another quick question Kiki (my lovebird) is very playful and my family adores her! But she sometimes bites us..like when I have to go somewhere and I try to take her of me she bites really hard! Any suggestions to stop this??? Thanks :) Reply

Sigga - 2011-11-29 Hi, I have a Dutch Blue Lovebird one year old. It is very difficult to get him to go into the cage. How can I weaned him from it? Charlie Roche - 2011-11-29 Join the group. Birds love to be out with their human owners and they would prefer being on their human or close to their human rather than being tucked away. You are just going to have to get creative and I do mean creative. When you are ready for him to go back in the cage - don't let him know under any circumstances. Don't get up and start walking to the cage etc. Instead get the little fella on your hand and pet him etc. Then hold his one foot down with your thumb against your hand and your arm slightly stretched out (to keep him from climbing back on your shoulder) and then take him to the cage and put him in. Reply

Christopher - 2011-09-03 They have been sexed Toby Jungle - 2011-09-03 That is definitely a step in the right direction. You have a boy and you have a girl. It will take a lone pair of birds - most species - a time before what they know what "IT" is. Without a flock, without vocalizations from a flock or behaviors such as nestr building and mating and feeding that they can see or are aware of they have to learn all on their own. It is a complicated process when you have absolutely no knowledge at all. You can try lengthening thier day with a UV bulb or lamp to stimulate the longers day of spring - although we are not into short days yet. I would wait till maybe January to start this. Just put the lamp on for 8 then few days later 9 then few days late 10 up to 12 hours a day. That will give them more sunshine. Food is plentiful for birds in the spring and I would give them all sorts of soft foods such as scrabled eggs with veggies, milk soaked bread or peanut butter and bread. Honey on a cracker etc. Let see if we can get some mutual feeding and preening going on. How about we try and give them pieces of paper or paper towel to chew up or possibly put in the nest box. Most of all it just takes patience on the humans part. They will eventually get "it" and get to "it" Reply

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