LOVE BIRDS for VALENTINES DAY ?
wondering about those little parrots called lovebirds.
Why are they named that?
Are they really more affectionate than other birds?
Parrots in general have strong, long-lasting pair bonds, and many
species are known to mate for life. But in the nine species of
lovebirds (genus Agapornis), native to Africa and Madagascar,
those romantic bonds seem unusually close and intense.
These are small, short-tailed parrots, a little smaller than an American Robin,
with mostly green bodies and patterned heads.
They reproduce well in captivity and are popular as cagebirds,
so they’re familiar
to many people around the world who would never have a
chance to see them in the wild. And anyone who has paid attention
to a pair of lovebirds notice their strong attachment to each other.
In many species of parrots, as in various other kinds of birds, it’s common
for the male to feed the female as a part of courtship. Lovebirds take this
to the next level. They feed each other during all seasons, especially after
they’ve been separated or subjected to some other kind of stress.
When one bird is passing food to the other, beak to beak, it looks for
all the world as if they were kissing.
Members of a pair also regularly spend time preening or grooming each
other’s feathers; when at rest, they often perch very close together.
And because they’re small and cute, it’s hard to avoid the sense
that they’re “cuddling” or “snuggling.” Lovebirds indeed!
When the genus Agapornis was first named—in The Natural History of Parrots,
published in 1836—the author, Prideaux J. Selby, didn’t discuss the behavior of the birds
, but clearly he was aware of their seemingly affectionate nature.
The name itself reflects it: agape (ἀγάπη) from Ancient Greek for love, plus ornis (ὄρνις) for bird.
The English name “love-bird” was already in use for these little parrots at that time,
so the scientific name may have been simply a translation of that term.
In Spanish, lovebirds are called “inseparables;” in French, “inséparables.”
The words mean just what you think they mean, and they’re a
perfect reflection of the way these birds seem utterly devoted to their mates.
It’s hard to imagine more fitting birds to celebrate on Valentine’s Day.
