Other than being beautiful, lovebirds are the most expressive parrots in nature. The parrots have helped bring my home to life for the last two decades by welcoming me home after a long day with their sweet songs. Unlike most birds, lovebirds produce a wide range of sounds, with each having its meaning, so why does my lovebird sing?
Key Takeaways
As their name suggests, lovebirds mate for life; therefore, they communicate uniquely. Even in the wild, each pair has a particular song their partner can only identify. And they use their songs to check up on each other and ensure they are safe and in no danger.
Other than their collections of songs, you can also teach these birds a few songs. But you must be patient and play the same melody an entire day. They also produce several noises, with each having a unique meaning. Some of these sounds include:
- They growl when irritated
- They chirp when talking to everyone around them
- They scream when annoyed
- They screech when confused
- The croon, when pairing and can be part of their mating ritual
- They whistle when happy
Learning the meaning of these sounds is part of the bonding process and can help you understand your new pet. So before dismissing all the sounds they produce, you should listen carefully. You may be surprised by what you find out. And the sounds and body language can tell exactly how your pet feels.
6 Things You Didn’t Know About Lovebird Singing and Song
Lovebirds spend their entire day singing and whistling while playing around their cages. In fact, to some folks, especially the ones who love small-sized parrots like the parrotlets, the noises can be very annoying. After all, lovebirds tend to produce louder noises than parrotlets, and since they’re kept in pairs, they can be pretty loud.
But for lovebird owners, these songs can be soothing; sure, they’re not the best talkers. Lovebirds use their songs for a wide range of reasons. So if you already own lovebirds, then you know how they vocalize.
These parrots can pass a point across through peeping, whistling, chirping, and squeaking sounds instead of singing and talking. So despite being the smallest parrots, they’re some of the noisiest parrots.
If you’re looking for a less noisy bird, you should avoid the lovebirds. But do you know why does my lovebird sing? And do you know that every sound they produce has a specific meaning?
Generally, a singing bird is a happy bird that’s having fun with everyone around them. So here are a few things you didn’t know about lovebird songs and singing:
The Lovebird’s Song Is a Combination of Different Sounds
When it comes to lovebirds, the definition of singing can vary with the listener. They can whistle, squawk, gurgle, or produce different sounds. Just like us, when they’re happy, they sing. We can sing in the shower or while doing something that we love; on the other hand, lovebirds sing when comfortable and happy.
But their song will differ from your usual music with vocals and melody. It may even be off-key at times and a nuisance to some people. But it’s still unique to the birds. The lovebird’s song combines various sounds, from thrills and gurgles to squawks and whistles. Lovebirds use their unique sound capabilities to change their melody constantly.
Unfortunately, some lovebird species tend to be more musical than others. On the other hand, some are the equivalent of tone-deaf. Therefore, you should be aware that some lovebird species can’t sing as well as others. So the fact that your lovebird doesn’t sing like others shouldn’t discourage you.
For instance, Fischer’s lovebirds sound as beautiful as they look. Thanks to their beautiful melodies, they can be entertaining and leave your home sounding just like the wild. You can even get them to sing along to some songs.
They Can Mimic Everything They Hear Around Them and Use Them to Create a Beautiful Song
Generally, lovebirds have less vocabulary than parrots, birds, or even human beings. However, these birds can easily mimic certain sounds and noises in their surroundings, as in this clip. So make sure you talk to them daily and teach them a few melodies they can use when communicating with everyone around them.
Therefore, they can easily sing a lot to the song in the background by mimicking all the sounds produced by the speaker.
You can teach them to speak by simply teaching them to mimic what you’re saying. Mimicking also helps it with singing its favorite tune. It will be off-key, but if you listen carefully, you’ll realize that you may know the song.
Since it can’t talk, don’t expect the song to have lyrics, but you’ll hear the beautiful melodies. So before leaving for work, you can leave a song playing in the background, and you’ll be surprised to discover that your pet can whistle any song. But you have to be patient when teaching your favorite music.
They Can Sing the Whole Day
Despite their body size, lovebirds are boisterous creatures that can sing the entire day. They are not huge talkers, but you can find them whistling and vocalizing with their mates. Whistling is regular for lovebirds. These beauties can whistle the entire day while playing with each other and entertaining you.
They can’t sing, but they produce songs all day. And with proper training, they can pick a local tune and add it to their collection of songs. Therefore, you must adopt a pair of lovebirds instead of one. A couple can entertain you with their synced songs which are simply beautiful. Plus, when in a pair they can sing more to each other as they’ll be more social.
But with one lovebird, you won’t enjoy their unique tunes; instead, you’ll have a lonely bird screaming most of the time.
Lovebirds Love Whistling
Like human beings, lovebirds whistle when they’re happy, so your pet shouldn’t surprise you when it starts whistling. After all, it is happy and willing to express its feelings to everyone. So they can whistle to each other or their owners when happy.
Whether they’re happy or just having fun whistling a beautiful song away is a great sign that your pet is doing well.
Teaching A Lovebird How to Sing
If you don’t love their tunes, you can teach your pet how to sing, but first, you must gain its trust. If it’s a new pet, you should start by gaining its trust and being familiar with it. You should always be soft around it and never yell at anyone. But most importantly, make sure it gets used to feeding from your hand.
After gaining its trust, you can use an mp3 player or iPod to teach it how to sing. Technology has come a long way over the years. If moving a speaker to the aviary is not an option, you can purchase an mp3 player. Using your mp3 player, you can play a recording of other pets singing or chirping and let your bird listen and play along.
You can repeat this step every day and even let it play all day. Its instinct will kick in and start singing and chirping in no time.
Each Pair Has a Unique Song They Use to Communicate
Lovebirds live in pairs; therefore, they have created a unique sound or song they use when communicating. The song serves as a language that’s understood by the mating couple. And since each pair has its unique sound, it is easier for them to check out on each other in the wild. They even use it as a call or a means of informing their partner of their location.
What Do the Different Sounds They Produce Mean?
Lovebirds produce a wide range of noises separately, which can create a beautiful song when combined. Unfortunately, they can make these sounds when they’re trying to communicate something, with each sound having its meaning. Remember, they have to get your attention using any means at their disposal. So before talking about why they sing, we need to find out the meaning of the different sounds they produce:
When Happy, They Whistle
Other than entertaining themselves, lovebirds can whistle when they’re happy and relaxed. Whistling is also a communication between these beauties and their owners or pets. They’re telling you to join the fun and whistle the day away.
They Scream When They’re Unhappy.
Like all birds, lovebirds can scream when they’re uncomfortable on in pain. Screaming can mean many things, and sometimes it can be accompanied by several non-vocal cues. For instance, it can mean they must figure out what’s happening. So when you poke or touch them without their consent, they can scream and bite you.
Screaming may not be a song, but it’s one of the sounds they produce. Therefore, when screaming, they communicate something to you if they seem frantic, flighty, or nervous. All you have to do is listen and look at them.
Crooning Is Part of Their Mating Ritual.
In the animal kingdom, singing is a complex ritual, and each species has a unique mating dance and song. When mating, the male would move around the female, producing clicking sounds. So if you see the male lovebird moving around its mate while making some clicking sounds, you should give them their privacy.
If your birds have a great relationship, you will likely hear them crooning. Therefore, you will likely hear chirpy noises and unique body language, like spreading their feathers to the side and turning their heads to encourage petting.
They Squawk When Confused
Other than screaming, another unbearable sound produced by lovebirds is squawking. Squawking noises are noisy and high-pitched sounds they make when curious. In this video, the lovebird isn’t scared but confused. It still wants to play but wonders why the toy isn’t screaming back.
They Chirp When Communicating With You
Lovebirds chirp a lot, and when tweeting, you might think they’re telling each other a story. Chirping is their unique way of communicating with each other or with you. When you listen carefully when they’re chirping away, you will see how keen and serious they are while talking to each other.
Lovebirds have been known to chirp all day long, and there is nothing you can do to stop them from communicating. After all, they love communicating, and chirping is a way they talk even to other parrot species.
They Growl When Irritated
Teaching lovebirds how to talk or play with them can be fun. But it can become annoying to them, especially if you keep insisting on the same thing every time. When you annoy them, they can become irritated and start growling.
Therefore, when training them, you must try and mix things up. They can try something new if they become bored with one trick or toy. They can also growl when you go beyond a specific boundary. And if you insist, they may become aggressive and even attack you. Therefore, you must continually monitor their body language.
They Click to Get Your Attention
Generally, clicking sounds are normal, especially when they are near you or their mates. These birds click when they’re trying to get your attention. They can also click when playing by themselves around the shower bowls. Clicking is a unique way of inviting you or other pets to come to play. And suppose you have several parrots and other birds in your aviary. In that case, you’ll notice that they will play together when clicking.
These birds click a lot when they’re focused on something, and it’s a way of saying, “come play” or “I’m interested.”
What Does Lovebird Singing Mean?
As aforementioned, lovebirds love singing; they can easily mimic any sound around them while playing with other pets. Since they always stay as a pair, you should expect to hear them singing every morning and evening when you get home. But have you ever asked yourself what their song means or why they sing?
The main reason why they sing is that they’re happy and everything is great in their eyes. It’s a great indicator that the surrounding mood is quite right and accommodating. When they’re stress-free, these birds can sing all day long. Some of the key reasons why they produce a wide range of noises include:
Communication With Their Mates and Everyone Around Them
Generally, lovebirds sing for a wide range of reasons, the main one being communication. They use their song to keep check of their partners and themselves. If they can hear their partners singing, they know they’re there and not in any danger. It serves as a unique system for mating parrots to communicate and can even be considered a form of language.
Remember, lovebirds are known monogamous creatures that mate for life.
And once they’re paired, they can remain together for life, so in the wild, they have their unique language, which they use to communicate. Even captivity members use their beautiful songs to communicate with each other. And the special thing about these songs is that each pair has their song, which they only understand.
Each pair has a way or a song they use to communicate with each other in the wild. They use it to call each other even from a distance. They can use some of the above noises to communicate with their chick after they hatch.
Singing Is a Form of Entertainment
Singing is a form of entertainment for human beings and parrots, particularly lovebirds. They have been known to learn a wide range of songs and entertain themselves and their owners while trying to get their attention. Remember, they’re not great talkers, so they can use their ability to sing to talk to each other all day long.
Plus, they know they will get some treats when you’re happy. So they can sing your favorite tune just for a few treats and cuddling.
Conclusion
Lovebirds are known for producing various noises and even singing when happy. But do you know that they use their voices to communicate with everyone around them? So if you want to live peacefully with your pet, you should learn the meaning of all the noises they produce and not assume they’re either angry or happy.
For instance, chirping is a form of communication; they can chirp all day long when talking. So you should also monitor their body language when they’re making noises. Their body language can help you figure out what they mean. Remember, when irritated, they can become aggressive while growling.
You May Also Be Interested In
- The Lovebird Vs. Parrotlet (And Why You Need To Know The Difference)
- Lovebird Colors Explained (You Won’t Believe This)
- Can Lovebirds Eat Bananas
- What Do Lovebirds Need?
- The Parakeet Vs. The Lovebird: The Differences Explained
- Are Budgies Love Birds? (We Find Out)
- Wikipedia contributors, Lovebird, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovebird/ accessed January 3, 2023
- YouTube contributor Fischer’s lovebird singing and talking sounds, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjLwRyuWI8k/ accessed January 3, 2023
- New Scientist, https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=-rE0nQCROdQC&pg=PA45&dq=lovebirds+are+monogamous&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPqazFvaj8AhUaS8AKHWk4ARQQ6AF6BAgHEAI#v=onepage&q=lovebirds%20are%20monogamous&f=false/ accessed January 3, 2023
- YouTube contributor, Peach face lovebird mimicking, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx5L9n0LsFA/ accessed January 3, 2023
- YouTube contributor, Lovebird pair crooning, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2ad2WurSLM/ accessed January 3, 2023
- YouTube contributor, lovebird squawking at toy bird, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3UYID219_0/ accessed January 3, 2023
- YouTube contributor, Stop irritating me, mimi! Lovebird growl, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKU-0Cxfopk/ accessed January 3, 2023