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Black-cheeked Lovebird - BirdForum Opus

Photo by safariranger
Machile River, Zambia, July 2006
Agapornis nigrigenis

Identification

14cm

  • Green
  • Reddish-brown forehead and forecrown
  • Brownish-black cheeks and throat
  • Orange bib fading to yellowish-green
  • Orange patch on breast
  • Brown head
  • Black face
  • White ring around the eye
  • Very short tail
  • Grey feet

Adults have bright red bills; juveniles an orange bill

Similar Species

Lilian's Lovebird: which has an orange head

Graphic by Nrg800

Distribution

Endemic to South-western Zambia.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Has been considered a race of Lilian's Lovebird, but has dark brown (not orange) head contrasting with white eye-ring and reddish bill.

Habitat

Tall mopane woodland, riparian woodland and adjacent fields.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes fruits and buds.

Breeding

They nest in holes. The 4-5 eggs are incubated for around 25 days. The young fledge after about six weeks.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. Wikipedia
  3. Bristol Zoo
  4. BF Member observations

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

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