Plumage Colouration: The Black masked lovebird (Male & Female) are blacked headed white ring around eye, pinkish to red beak darkish green wings which gose around the back. Under the wing, tail feathers to half way up to it's body it's light green. From the middle up to the bottom of the beak and aroundthe back of the back of the neck.The Blue masked are the same shades but mainly blue and turquoise.

Mutations: Blue Masked lovebird, they are blue and turquoise but still have a black head.

Sexing: You eather get it DNA tested or feel the pelvic bone and see if its wide for it's the female because they need bigger pelvis so they can pass the egg. The hen is sometimes a little bit larger.

Feeding: Standard cockatiel mix, cuttlefish bone, vegetables and fruits, bugimine or petamin for chicks,salt lick or block, abit of gravel or grit, breads and cereals, boiled eggs and good old millet.

Housing: For inside a good size cockatiel cage if there is a pair a budgie cage for the single bird. For outdoor an averiy a 9x3 is good for a 1-3 pairs and they can mix with birds a bit larger (cockatiel to rosella size) but get the lovebirds get use to the bigger birds by putting the lovebirds in one cage and putting the larger bird/s in another and put them close together to see if they would fight or not.

Breeding: To breed them you need a box about (extruding length)12cm x (width)13cm x (depth)14-15 depending if you would like a sloping lid on top these are inside measurements.Signs of readieness are the female gets the nest box filled up with nest materials her droppings would be larger and foul smelling because of the hormones the pair will start mating during the mornings and late afternoon but sometimes during the day the male will start feeding the female and a lump will form near the vent which is an egg forming.Lovebirds have 4-6 eggs the nesting materials they use palm fonds and willow branches which need to be moist I use grass which seems to be a good idea to the lovebirds.The times of incubation are 22 to 24 (24 being the most accurate)and are fully independant with in 6 weeks.Try to wait until they are over 9 months perferably 1 year some pro breeders wait until they are 2 years old.

Hints/tips: Try to use wooden perches for the are very determined chewers, don't use non bird friendly sprays and deoderants only those which say you can use around birds. Have a supply of plasters or a thinnish garden glove for thouse not so tame birds for you would need them if you need to catch them by hand for they have a sharp nip (from experience).

Unique Characteristics: They are defeiently cheeky in characteristics very bold when the won't to be but these birds are one of the best beguinner birds for keeping and breeding there are many mutations to really list. There call is usually sharp and chittery.

If you would like to know any other information about these birds please feel free to get in touch by emamailto:reggie41188@aol.com