Agapornis nigrigenis
The Black-cheeked Lovebird (Agapornis nigrigenis) is a diminutive and strikingly colored parrot, measuring approximately 14 cm (5.5 inches) in length and weighing around 40-50 grams. Its plumage is predominantly emerald green, vividly contrasted by a distinctive sooty black face and cheeks, extending from the forehead down to the throat. A narrow, reddish-brown band often fringes the forehead, while a salmon-orange patch adorns the upper breast, fading into yellow and then green on the belly....
This species primarily inhabits Mopane woodlands and riparian forests along seasonal rivers and permanent water sources in southwestern Zambia, typically found at elevations below 1,000 meters.
Their diet primarily consists of grass seeds, particularly guinea grass, as well as seeds from Mopane trees and wild figs, supplemented occasionally with insects or fruits. They forage both on the ground and directly from vegetation.
Black-cheeked Lovebirds are highly diurnal and gregarious, forming large, noisy flocks outside of the breeding season that can number in the hundreds, roosting communally in trees. Their foraging strategies involve searching the ground for fallen seeds, plucking seeds directly from grass heads, a...
The Black-cheeked Lovebird is endemic to a small, isolated region in southwestern Zambia, primarily found within the upper Zambezi watershed between the Zambezi and Kafue rivers. Its distribution centers around the Macha and Nkala regions of Southern Province. This species is non-migratory and re...
Vulnerable
- The Black-cheeked Lovebird is one of the smallest parrot species, measuring only about 14 cm (5.5 inches) in length. - Unlike many lovebird species, both male and female Black-cheeked Lovebirds look virtually identical, making sexing challenging without DNA testing. - Females of this species ha...