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Lovebirds typically only live about 5 to 15 years in the wild. Usually, they are threatened by predators and food shortages, hence the reduced lifespan. Unusual weather patterns can severely affect their health as well. Like many animals today, they are also threatened by human activities.

There are many illnesses that can gravely affect a bird’s lifespan in the wild. There are also many diseases that they could recover from in captivity that are deadly in the wild.

However, in captivity, they tend to live a bit longer. This increased lifespan is due to the vet care and stability they receive when domesticated. Usually, when taken care of, these birds will like about 10 to 20 years.

Of course, the level of care they receive does contribute to their life span.

How Long Do Lovebirds Live Alone?

Usually, these birds are kept in pairs. This suggestion is due to their extremely social nature. They are very social birds, so they often need to be kept with others of the same species. Different types of lovebirds can sometimes get along, though it depends largely on the particular species.

However, this doesn’t mean that keeping them in pairs is absolutely necessary. If you have enough time, you can provide these birds with all the socialization they need.

But this is difficult for many owners. These birds cannot be left alone all day. They may become distressed, which can lead to feather plucking and similar behaviors. While being alone by itself won’t cause the bird to die sooner, these stress-induced behaviors can have an effect on their lifespan.

If you have a day job, you will likely be unable to provide these birds with enough companionship. Therefore, it is best to get them a companion.

With that said, it is often not possible to introduce a new lovebird if you have been keeping yours alone for a long time. These birds are often territorial. If they aren’t used to other birds being around, they can become aggressive when you try to introduce another one. Many people will adopt two at the same time, as this prevents any future problems.

As long as these birds are properly socialized, keeping them alone doesn’t affect their lifespan. There is some misinformation that these birds will die without a mate, but this is a rumor. It is not supported by any scientific information or observations by experts.

These birds can be kept alone; however, it is much easier to keep them with at least one other companion.

Why Do Some Lovebirds Live Longer Than Others?

There are many factors that may affect a lovebird’s lifespan. Proper care can go a long way to ensure that they live their full lifespan. Those that are not properly cared for may live a shorter lifespan than their relatives in the wild.

1. Neglect

Neglected parrots are often destructive to their surroundings and their bodies. Stress can cause health problems, as birds are prone to stress-induced behaviors like feather plucking. Lovebirds that are not socialized properly will easily develop troublesome behaviors, which can lead to a shorter lifespan. It isn’t that loneliness itself can kill lovebirds; it simply leads to behaviors that can.

Lovebirds are a lot like toddlers, especially in old age. They know how to get attention and may act out if they aren’t getting enough. This is one reason why they are often kept with a companion.

2. Diet

Like all animals, a poor diet can affect a lovebird’s lifespan. If the bird is not properly fed, it may develop nutritional deficiencies. These may not lead to instant health problems, but they can cause problems down the line. For instance, a calcium deficiency can make their bones more brittle, increasing the likelihood that they will break. A lovebird with a broken wing or leg may not recover, especially when they are older.

3. Size

As smaller parrots, lovebirds live shorter lifespans than other parrots. There isn’t anything that you can do to affect this factor. However, you should be aware of this fact before adopting them. This species will not live 100 years like a macaw.

4. Environment

The environment also matters. Unsafe toys and other items can injure the bird, breaking its beak and nails. This can affect their lifespan, especially if they do not heal correctly. At the same time, overgrown beaks and nails can also negatively affect their lifespan. It is important that they are allowed to wear their beak down on chew toys. Otherwise, it may cause health problems.

5. Medical Care

Having access to a vet that specializes in birds is important. If you do not, it is likely that treatment for curable diseases will be impossible to access. You should find an exotic vet near you and plan on visiting them regularly, even if they are an hour or more away. If you can’t do this, it will gravely affect the lifespan of your bird.

Lovebird Lifespan by Species

Lovebirds come in a variety of different species. Some of these live longer than others. For instance, the rosy-faced lovebird lives to be about 15 to 25 years. The oldest recorded lived to be 34 years!

On the other hand, Lilian’s lovebird only lives about 10–12 years, though very few live to be closer to 20 years. Masked lovebirds live to be about 10 to 20 years.

The lifespan can vary somewhat, as you can see. However, most lovebirds fall within the 15-to-20-year category when raised in captivity.

Final Thoughts

In captivity, most lovebirds will live about 10 to 20 years. However, it depends on their species and how they are taken care of. In some cases, these birds will live similar lifespans to their wild counterparts, especially if they are not taken care of.

Lovebirds have some pretty specific needs, especially when it comes to socialization. If they are not provided for, their lifespan will likely decrease. A lovebird will not die from loneliness. However, improper socialization will cause stress and lead to harmful behaviors. If they are neglected, they will likely not live to ten. Some birds may not live to their fifth birthday if they are not properly cared for.

A lovebird’s diet does play a major role in their lifespan. Birds with improper diets will develop nutritional deficiencies or become overweight. Both of these outcomes lead to health problems, which can cause your bird to perish before their time. Sadly, there is a lot of misinformation over the proper diet for a lovebird. Be sure to do research on the proper diet for your bird and speak to the breeder if possible.

There are many factors owners can control when it comes to taking care of their birds, as well as several they cannot. In the end, you can expect your bird to live somewhere between 10 and 20 years. However, some may live as long as 40 years, so prepare properly.

Featured Image Credit by: Ward Poppe, Shutterstock