I’ve become so accustomed to the noise of chattering birds in my home that it can come as a bit of a surprise when a friend visiting comments about how much noise they make.
I’ve always been very fond of my lovebirds tweeting and chattering, but it did occur to me that I wasn’t quite sure how much noise they made, relatively speaking.
So, I decided to look into the question.
Are lovebirds noisy?
The basic answer is yes, lovebirds will make a lot of noise. They are highly social and intelligent birds, and use their chirping to communicate. The noise is by no means oppressive, and your lovebird will only make excessive noise when it becomes bored of its environment.
Lovebirds love to chatter and squawk in their high-pitched voices, whether to each other or just to themselves.
They also can make a lot of noise while playing, even if not vocalizing.
But let’s look into the details of when they are most active, and how the noise of lovebirds compares to other species.
Are lovebirds noisy during the day?
Typically, lovebirds will make a lot of noise in the early morning and in the late afternoon/ into the evening.
Like many birds, they love to wake up with a song in their heart.
An important point to note is that, very often, lovebirds are kept in pairs.
While this is not, despite the common myth, absolutely necessary, it can help and is common practice.
If you do intend on getting two lovebirds, naturally, the level of noise will be doubled!
If your lovebird appears to be excessively noisy all day, it is most likely bored, and needs either more or new toys.
For a single lovebird, a mirror can be a great toy, as they can have fun without needing a partner.
They’re also very fond of sound-based toys, like bells.
This will keep them entertained and stop them from making too much noise out of boredom.
Of course, it’s vitally important that you interact with your lovebirds every day too, especially if you only have one.
Are lovebirds noisy at night?
In the evening as they are getting ready to go to sleep, lovebirds will begin making a lot of noise as they did in the morning when they woke up.
If your lovebird is making lots of noise throughout the night every night, however, that could indicate a problem.
Again, it could be simple boredom.
If it is being under stimulated during the day, it may be wide awake and unable to sleep at night.
Keeping it occupied during the day is essential for good rest.
Like with any parrot, it’s important to mimic a day-night cycle as best you can in the lovebird’s environment.
Don’t leave lots of light on in the room when they sleep, and often best practice is to drape a blanket over their cage at night to help them feel safe in the darkness.
Make sure to leave your lovebird’s cage somewhere you won’t have to disturb it once you put your bird to sleep.
Disturbed sleep can cause behavioral problems, such as excessive vocalization.
In general, lovebirds sleep at night, and if they have a healthy routine, they shouldn’t make a lot of noise throughout the night.
They will, however, chirp and sing as their bedtime comes around.
Are they noisier than other species?
So, how does the noise of lovebirds compare to other species?
Well, before getting into this question, it’s important to keep in mind that individuals in a species can differ a lot.
That said, there are a few comparisons to be made.
Despite their small stature, lovebirds can be among the noisier of parrot pets.
Though lovebirds are smaller than cockatiels, they are definitely some degrees louder and chattier!
Cockatiels are generally considered very quiet.
Parakeets, another species larger than lovebirds, are still not as loud and don’t chatter as much.
A lovebird’s voice will carry further than a parakeet.
Parakeets are more likely to settle into the background in that way.
So, as far as small parrots go, lovebirds are pretty noisy.
However, they are very small, and for that reason alone they are a lot quieter than most larger species.
Cockatoos are the polar opposite of the similarly named cockatiel.
Large, loud and boisterous, they will make many times the amount of noise your lovebird makes.
Equally, larger parrots like the macaw, eclectus, conure, Amazon and African greys will all make a lot more noise than a lovebird would.
So, for their stature, lovebirds are relatively quite noisy.
If you want an especially quiet bird, then they will not be quite the right fit.
However, they’re many times quieter than large parrot species that are popular pets.
How can I keep my lovebirds quiet?
If you feel that your lovebird is making too much noise, there are a few things you can do to try and treat this.
As I said, lovebirds like all parrots are highly intelligent, highly social beings.
But lovebirds are even more social than many other species of parrot, and so could need special attention.
The most important thing is to ensure they are fully stimulated throughout the day.
If you only have one lovebird, and still even if you have two, you must spend a good deal of time playing with it every day.
Make sure it has plenty of toys for when you aren’t there, and make sure you’re introducing new toys if it becomes bored with the ones it has.
Finally, make sure your lovebird is getting enough sleep, and isn’t being overstimulated with sunlight throughout the day.
So, in all, the simplest answer to the question is yes, lovebirds are noisy.
While you will need to be ready to put up with a certain amount of noise, at the same time there are many very popular species of parrot which are much, much noisier.
Lovebirds are a lot of energy in a very small package, and don’t be fooled by their small size into thinking they are quiet.
If you’re ready to put up with the occasional bit of chirping and singing, you’ll have a great new friend in your lovebird.