Grey-headed Lovebird

Overview

The Grey-headed Lovebird, also called the Madagascar Lovebird, is the only lovebird species native to Madagascar rather than mainland Africa. It stands out among lovebirds for its pronounced difference in appearance between males and females.

Males show a distinctive pale grey head and breast against an otherwise green body, while females lack any grey and are uniformly green, making this one of the more sexually dimorphic lovebird species.

Feather Identification

• Male head and breast: Pale silvery-grey feathers cover the head, neck, and upper chest, sharply contrasting with the green body below and behind.
• Male body: Bright green over the back, wings, and lower underparts.
• Female plumage: Entirely green, without any grey feathers on the head or breast, differing markedly from the male.
• Shaft and texture: Small, fine rachis typical of lovebirds.
• Compared to similar species: No eye-ring is present, unlike several African lovebird species; the male's grey head is unique among lovebirds, while females can be confirmed as this species mainly by range, since they lack a distinctive plumage marker.

Plumage Notes

This species shows clear sexual dimorphism, unlike most other lovebirds where sexes look alike. Males have the grey head and breast described above, while females are uniformly green. Juvenile males resemble adult females until developing grey head feathers with maturity.

Molt occurs gradually through the year, and unlike several related species, this lovebird lacks a bare white eye-ring.

Habitat & Range

The Grey-headed Lovebird is endemic to Madagascar, where it inhabits woodland, forest edge, and savanna habitat across much of the island, generally avoiding dense rainforest interior. It has also been introduced to some nearby islands.

It is a resident species, with local movement tied to food availability across its range.

Behavior & Field Notes

Grey-headed Lovebirds are social, often seen in small flocks foraging for seeds and grasses in open woodland and savanna. They form pair bonds, with the grey-headed males and green females often seen perched together.

They nest in tree cavities, and are known to sometimes use old nests of other bird species. Their calls are shrill, high-pitched chattering notes typical of small lovebirds.