• Scientific Name:  Agapornis personata lilianae
• Common Name/s:  NYASA LOVEBIRD
• Sub Species in country / area of origin:  Nine different species/sub-species of lovebirds occur in the wild in Africa and Madagascar. 
• Origin / Distribution:  Africa - Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.
• Habitat In Wild:  along river valleys. ? check.
• Status In Wild:  ?
• Status In (Australian) Captivity:  Secure, but not as common as the other 3 species.
• Age To Sexual Maturity:  About 4 - 6 months. 
• Best breeding years (estimate):  For best results, the birds should not be allowed to breed before they reach the age of about 10 - 12 months.  Best breeding years are till about 7 years of age but may be successful for several more years.
• Lifespan (estimate):  approx. 8 - 10, but up to 15 years is possible.
• Sexing:  Monomorphic / Dimorphic.  Difficult to accurately sex. DNA or surgical sexing may be required.
• Colour mutations:  Yes
• Availability:  Bird dealers.
• Temperament:  Hardest of the 5 lovebird species in Australia to breed.  Popular aviary bird, generally less aggressive than the other 3 lovebird species, and will breed all months of the year.  Can be kept as a colony (provided the numbers of males and females are equal) in a suitable sized aviary but the parent birds can be aggressive to the young birds.  The young birds should be removed to a separate cage or aviary.  Lovebirds should not be housed with other types of birds due to the lovebirds aggressive nature especially at breeding time.  All species of lovebirds will easily hybridize and produce fertile young, so only one species should be kept per cage or aviary.  For best breeding results, or for breeding for specific colour, only keep one pair per aviary or cage.  Not suitable as a beginners bird.
• Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $150
• Description Of Adults:  Smallest of the 5 species/sub-species in Australia.  Fischer's lovebirds, Black cheeked Lovebirds and the Nyasa Lovebirds are members of the "white eye ring group".

1. Length: Approx. 130 mm (or approx  5 inches)
2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo/s above if available.
3. Weight: Approx. 40 gms (or almost 1.5 ozs)

Nyasa lovebirds are named after their place of origin, namely Nyasa-land.

Level Of Knowledge Required: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws:  Refer to " Government Laws " web page.

Housing Requirements:  Refer to " Lovebirds " web page for general details on the housing of Lovebirds.

Double wiring between adjoining aviaries is required to prevent injuries such as toes and feet being bitten by a neighbouring pairs.

Diet / Feeding:  Refer to " Lovebirds " web page for general details on the feeding of Lovebirds.

Nesting:  As per "Lovebirds" web page.

• Nesting months:  Will breed year round if conditions are suitable.
• Nest-box:  Commercially made lovebird breeding boxes can be purchased cheaply form most bird dealers or pet shops.  Refer to "Lovebirds" web page.
• Nest-box material:  Birds carry the nesting material into the nest box.  The preferred nest material is green fronds of the Christmas Island date palm.  May also use the grasses, stalks of grasses, twigs, leaves and other plant materials.  The nest can be an elaborate structure making nest inspections difficult.
• Who incubates the egg/s:  Hen

Breeding: Egg Colour White.  Clutch/s per year.. up to 3.  Eggs per nest  4 - 6.  Incubation approx.  23 days.  Fledge approx.  6 - 7 weeks.  Independent approx. another 3 weeks.

All 5 species of Lovebirds will hybridize and produce fertile offspring.  House only one species per cage or aviary.

Young should be removed from the parent birds as soon as they are fully independent so as to avoid possible aggression from a parent.

Hens should not be allowed to raise more than 3 clutches per year.

Birds that are bred to have a particular visual colour or a specific genetic combination are leg rung with numbered, coloured, closed metal leg rings so each bird can be individually identified.  Suitable rings can be purchased from most bird dealers, pet shops & bird clubs and how they are put on the baby birds can be learnt from an experienced breeder or avian veterinarian.  Specialist Lovebird clubs/societies are established in many large cities.

Artificial incubation and hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site.  It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.

Health Issues:  Refer to "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

• Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new bird/s or sick bird/s are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site.  Refer "Avian Health Issues" web page option.
• Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace.  Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References:  Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

• Australian Aviculture
• A/A Vol 30 No. 5 May 1976 Page 69
• A/A Vol 12 No 11 Nov 1958 Page 137-139,143-145 (Inc colour plate).
• A/A Vol  8 No 8 Aug 1954 Page 96 (Yellow).
• A/A Vol  7 No 9 Sept 1953 Page 111 (Yellow).
• The Bulletin No 20, Jun 1944 Page 2 - 3 (Cultivation of the abnormally coloured).
• Australian Birdkeeper
• ABK Vol 15 Issue 3. Jun-Jul 2002 Page 143-145

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