Each species of lovebird, has its own nesting habits, and favour particular foods.  In this article, Pauline James sets out exactly what their specific needs and preferences are.

Peach-faced, Masked, Fischer’s, Black-cheeked and Nyasa’s lovebirds all construct their own nests using strips or chewed pieces of willow, so it is important to provide a copious and regular supply of clean, fresh branches, at the onset of the breeding season.  Stripping or chewing-off pieces of willow - together with a good diet, and high fitness levels, helps to bring adults, of these five most commonly-kept species, into full breeding condition.

As they strip the outer layer from the branches, Peach-faced hens painstakingly load up their rumps, piece by piece, in their ruffled feathers.  When they have positioned 6-8 strips, each about 15cm (6in) long, they clamp their feathers down tightly, to secure them for the flight back to the nest-box.  Although the male makes no contribution towards nest-building, he strips the willow branches alongside the female, and rather oddly fastidiously positions each strip in the crux of his throat, dropping it when he looks up!

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