It seems that people aren't the only species that enjoy the comfort and convenience of city living. Many birds flock to urban areas for the same reasons as us, crowding new locales as non-native guests. Ever-present rock pigeons, house sparrows and starlings are all immigrants not just to our cities, but to the North American continent, having arrived with Europeans centuries ago.
In Phoenix we have a more recent settler filling our parks and yards - the rosy-faced lovebird. Native to the arid regions of southwest Africa, this relative of the parrot and cockatoo is bred and sold as a caged pet. In the past decades, enough pairs either escaped or were released into the wild to create multiple breeding colonies. A few hours outside on a nice day in one of the city's many manicured parks or neighborhoods might just guarantee an encounter with these noisy, flocking birds.
The thriving lovebirds seem to enjoy munching on both the native and backyard blooms available year round throughout the greater Phoenix area. Their pink, green and blue palette of hues are a beautiful and exotic addition to our city's abundant and colorful fauna. And life out of the bird cage and in the wild seems to suit them just fine.
In Phoenix we have a more recent settler filling our parks and yards - the rosy-faced lovebird. Native to the arid regions of southwest Africa, this relative of the parrot and cockatoo is bred and sold as a caged pet. In the past decades, enough pairs either escaped or were released into the wild to create multiple breeding colonies. A few hours outside on a nice day in one of the city's many manicured parks or neighborhoods might just guarantee an encounter with these noisy, flocking birds.
The thriving lovebirds seem to enjoy munching on both the native and backyard blooms available year round throughout the greater Phoenix area. Their pink, green and blue palette of hues are a beautiful and exotic addition to our city's abundant and colorful fauna. And life out of the bird cage and in the wild seems to suit them just fine.
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| Several rosy-faced lovebirds munching on creosote blooms near Phoenix Mountain Preserve. |
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| Two rosy-faced lovebirds munching creosote blooms. |
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| Rosy-faced lovebird showing off its blue tail feathers. |
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| Rosy-faced lovebird at Granada Park in Phoenix. |
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| Rosy-faced lovebird at Granada Park in Phoenix. |
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| Rosy-faced lovebird eating black-eyed susan blooms at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. |
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| Rosy-faced lovebird at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. A new and beautiful bird in the urban landscape. |
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