Description: Plumage green; red forehead and around eyes; crown, lores, cheeks, throat and upper breast rose-pink; body sides, abdomen and under tail-coverts yellowish-green; rump bright blue; under wing coverts green with blue wash; tail green; outer feathers with orange band edged with black; tail underside bluish; bill horn-coloured; iris dark brown; feet grey.

Length: Six inches (15 cm).

Distribution: The interior of Lake Ngami, Botswana; south of the Orange river in Namibia and northern Cape Province.

Habitat: As with other Lovebirds they prefer dry rocky areas with bushes and trees; occasionally palm groves, cultivated areas and edges of inhabited places where water occurs; never found far from water.

Wild Status and Diet: Lovebirds are usually found in groups of 12 birds; exceptionally in larger numbers; noisy and active, often quarrelsome within the group; pairs remain close; regular grooming within the group; they can be nomadic stopping where their is water; they fly in the evening; swift in flight with sudden turns; call shrill but often heard chattering.
Their diet is seed especially acacia, in addition berries and fruits are eaten; they have been known to cause considerable damage to grain fields.

Aviculture: The Lovebird is very active, hardy, and they are happiest if kept in colonies. They enjoy chewing so need lots of fresh branches. They can be mixed with other members of the Lovebird species with few serious disputes. They enjoy bathing; their water will need replenishing often in hot weather.

Accommodation: Inside flight: 6x 3 x 6 ft (2 x 1 x 2 m). Colony system of at least three pairs. Roosting box is necessary in the cold winter months. They require a minimum temperature of 50°F (10°C).

Diet: Good seed mix including: various millets, canary grass seed, sunflower and hemp; millet spray also spouted millet, plenty of green food, vegetables and fruit; provide young birds with vitamin C and mineral supplements.

Breeding in Aviculture: Breeding is usually successful and not difficult; breed most of the year if the weather is warm enough, but prefer the Spring. Provide plenty of fresh twigs for nest building. Clutches usually of 3 to 6 eggs; incubation 20 days; can breed several times a year but it's better not to let a pair breed more than twice. When the parents are rearing their young it is a good idea to give them eggfood as well as vitamin and calcium supplements.
The young may need to be removed from the parents as they may begin to pluck the young.

As Pets: Lovebirds are pretty little birds which can be kept in cages, but it is best to have a pair as they are very social birds. Lovebirds don't talk but their call may be quite shrill which can put some people off. They are very beautiful birds and enjoy attention from humans.