breeders' notes ... Abyssinian Lovebirds (Agapornis taranta)

The Abyssinian lovebird (Agapornis taranta) is described by Forshaw in Parrots of the World as the blackwinged lovebird. A more complete description of this species of lovebird is found in Rosemary Low's Parrots - Their Care and Breeding. An attractive feature of the Abyssinian is its radiant-like green coloration. E.N.T. Vane in the book, Guide to Lovebirds and Parrotlets, claims that there are two sub-species of A. taranta, but the differences he lists are so slight they appear to be insignificant. William C. Dilger in his The Comparative Ethnology of the African Parrot Genus Agapornis, (from the Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1960) produced a most informative study of the behavioral patterns of all lovebirds including the Abyssinian. Rosemary Low reported she has seen two cases of abnormally colored Abyssinian lovebirds. A native of Ethiopia, Abyssinian lovebirds inhabit the dry, highland forests where freezing temperatures at night are common. They do, however, descend to the lower altitudes. In the wild they roost in the hollows of trees and feed on seeds, berries and fruits. They are not nest builders. Considering that this species of lovebird is native to high altitudes where it can drop to below freezing at night, it would be interesting to try to acclimate and keep these birds out of doors the year around in our more temperate climates.