Lovebirds in Arizona, Phoenix ( Complete Details)

Last Updated on July 1, 2022 by Ali Shahid

The squeaks of little peach-faced lovebirds flying among trees and cactuses are certain to be heard as you stroll through Scottsdale or Mesa in the greater Phoenix area. It is also known that they nest in the holes drilled by other birds in the saguaro cacti.

You can’t stop smiling when you see the little ones peering out of their nesting holes in the cacti. It is very common to find the Peach faced lovebird species in the Phoenix area of Arizona.

Arizona is not a native habitat for peach-faced lovebirds. In fact, peach-faced lovebirds have their home in southern Africa, not Arizona.

However, over the past few years, many escaped pets have settled in the Sonoran Desert, and as a result, they have become citizens. In desert areas like this one, all the flocks are descendants of pet birds that have escaped their owners.

Since it is like their ancestral home in southwestern Africa, they love the dry desert heat of the Sonoran Desert! Bird feeders are a favorite, and they take full advantage of whatever they find in backyards.

There is also a surprising amount of food from the Sonoran Desert that they seem to have developed a taste for. Now let’s discuss in detail the Peach-Faced Lovebirds (Rosy-Faced) in Phoenix Arizona.

Peach-Faced Lovebirds in Phoenix Arizona

A Rosy-faced Lovebird is a colorful and small parrot that has been popular in cages everywhere, including the United States. It has been reported that flocks of these birds have been breeding in the suburbs of Phoenix since at least the mid-1980s.

The majority of exotic species that escape into the wild are never able to survive in the wild for very long, and few of them establish breeding populations.

However, the population of this bird has been increasing since the mid-1980s and has spread to city parks and backyards all across the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.

Among the many species of birds bred in captivity, both by hobbyists and in the commercial pet trade, the Rosy-faced Lovebird is an extremely popular one. From 1992 through 2001, less than 5% of the animals exported were wild.

This species is easy to breed in captivity. Within a season, a pair of birds can produce three broods (4-5 eggs per clutch).

Because of their popularity and ease of breeding, the Greater Phoenix area is home to a widespread feral lovebird population because of escapees and illegal releases.

The only known feral population of Rosy-faced Lovebirds in the United States can be found in Phoenix, Arizona.

There have been a few sightings outside of the Phoenix area, but little is known about them, and no evidence indicates colonies have become established.

There are only a few introduced parrot populations that descend directly from domesticated parents, including the Arizona population of the Rosy-faced Lovebird.

Where to find Peach-faced or Rosy-faced Lovebirds in Phoenix Arizona

There are a number of areas you may want to take a look at from 52nd to 64th Streets and from Cactus Road to Thunderbird Road if you are in Scottsdale.

Additionally, you can see them between Albertsons and the Shell station located across the parking lot from Power Road and McDowell Road in Mesa.

How Peach-Faced Lovebirds Adapted to the Hot Climate of Phoenix Arizona

 In a big city like Phoenix, how does a hot bird stay cool? Those birds have no way of turning on the air conditioner, but we do.

A study published in Biology Letters shows greater numbers of rose-faced lovebirds flock to air-conditioning vents when temperatures rise.

As the earth’s climate changes, birds and animals will likely have to adapt to stay cool, as Phoenix’s hot summers are the latest example.

The Rose-faced Lovebird is an escapee from the pet trade that originated in southwestern Africa and first appeared in Phoenix in the 1980s. It is estimated that there are now more than 2,000 individuals living in the city, nesting in ornamental palms and native cacti.

The birds have not traveled far outside of the city, indicating that they are dependent on humans in a desert climate that is hotter and dryer than their natural habitat.

The birds can stay cool and hydrated by visiting surface water sources in the arid woodlands and scrublands of their native range. Temperatures routinely exceed 100 degrees in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, meanwhile.

Very Hot Climate of Phoenix

Since the lovebirds arrived in Phoenix, the city’s climate has changed even more than its surrounding areas, thanks to the urban heat island effect. With 6. 2 extra days above 110 degrees on average since 1970, Phoenix is now the second hottest city in North America.

This is having a detrimental impact on the local wildlife. As the Mojave Desert dries, bird communities collapse as well-a microcosm of the larger Southwest change that affects people too.

A summer that included 103 days of triple-digit temperatures killed 197 people in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix. Scientists predict that Phoenix will experience temperatures over 100 degrees on 132 days of the year by 2060.

Adapting to a Hot Climate – The Case of Rosy-Faced Lovebirds

There is a creative way in which Phoenix’s lovebirds beat the hot desert temperatures. Their favorite place to go during their stay in Phoenix has been ASU’s science building in recent years.

These colorful birds perch near the air conditioning vents of the building during the summer, seemingly taking advantage of the cool air that leaks out during the heat of the day.

How Long Rosy-Faced Lovebirds will Survive in Phoenix Arizona

As a whole, the Phoenix area offers plenty of food and water throughout the year, and the birds often lay two to three broods per year, which is more than enough to maintain and likely increase the population.

It is estimated that Rosy-faced Lovebirds typically live for 15 to 25 years in captivity.

While the lifespan of an adult pair in the wild is not well known, it is expected to be shorter than in captivity, providing the opportunity for every pair to replenish and expand their population.

It has been reported that urban predators such as raptors and outdoor cats rarely catch adult lovebirds, as they are generally wary and swift on the wing.

Lovebird populations appear to be sustainable, though there is always the threat of psittacine beak and feather disease. Due to the increasing international legal and illegal bird trade, this virus threatens all Psittacinae parrot species.

The long-term survival of the Rosy-faced Lovebird in Arizona is not predictable in light of the circumstances above, as well as the history of some exotic bird populations in the United States.

There is little doubt that the charismatic little birds will remain part of Arizona’s avifauna for a long time since they are widespread and their numbers are growing in the greater Phoenix area.

How to attract wild lovebirds in Arizona

To attract lovebirds in your backyards in Arizona, there are certain steps you need to take. These steps are intended to make your backyard attractive for lovebirds.

• Lovebird Friendly Place
• Multiple Feeder Station
• Put a Birdbath next to the Birdhouse
• Well Maintained Garden
• Plant Native Trees
• Colorful Flowers
• Nesting boxes in Your Garden
• Provide Shelter for Safety

For complete information, you can also check our article on How to attract Peach-Faced Lovebirds.

Lovebirds for Sale in Arizona

1. Arizona Bird Store

Address: 565 S Dobson Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202, United States

Phone: +1 480-833-4001

2. Tropic Zone Exotic Birds

Address: 820 E Greenway Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85022, United States

Phone: +1 602-493-7387

3. Birds, and then some!

Address: 16026North, N 32nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85032, United States

Phone: +1 602-548-0133

4. AZ Exotic Bird Rescue, Inc.

Address: 2724 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257, United States

Phone: +1 480-535-4999

5. Birdz & Beyond

Address: 3519 W Thunderbird Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85053, United States

Phone: +1 602-993-4700