Lovebirds are named for their intense pair bonds — pairs groom each other obsessively, sleep pressed together, and grieve visibly when separated. This has created a myth that lovebirds must always be kept in pairs. The reality is more nuanced: a hand-raised lovebird bonded to a human is a complete companion on its own. A lovebird kept with another lovebird from the start will bond to that bird and become progressively less interested in human interaction. The community debates this endlessly.

Tiny. Ferocious. These words appear in every description of lovebirds for good reason. They are the smallest birds in this guide and among the most territorially aggressive per ounce. A lovebird that has decided it doesn't like something will attack it with complete commitment. This is also why their owners love them — there's nothing low-energy about a lovebird.

Peach-Faced Lovebirds are most common in the U.S., followed by Fischer's and Masked Lovebirds. The mutation breeding world for Peach-Faced in particular is elaborate — Dutch Blue, Lutino, Pied, American Cinnamon — and mutation-specific owners appreciate when you know what they're talking about.