29/01/2024
COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW AGAPORNIS NIGRIGENIS
The Black-cheeked lovebird, scientifically known as Agapornis nigrigenis, originates from Zambia and was discovered in 1904 by Dr. Kirkman near the Muguazi river. These lovebirds have a warm brownish-black head, with the front and cheeks being the darkest areas. A salmon-colored bib can be observed on the lower throat and upper breast, while the main body color is green. The rump also shares the same green hue.
The bill of the Black-cheeked lovebird transitions from bright red at the tip to a pinkish white at its base. It has a cere and a ring around the eye, both made of bare white skin. The feet are grey, and the claws are black. Measuring around 13-14 centimeters, it is considered one of the smaller species of lovebirds.
Agapornis nigrigenis is now Africa's most threatened parrot species, with its habitat comprising approximately 2,500 square kilometers. Research conducted in 1974 revealed that Black-cheeked lovebirds are primarily found in wooded areas around the Zambesi river. These woods are often just a few meters wide and transition into dry savannah. Lovebirds search for food in these areas, including grass seeds, berries, and fruits. They rely on the gallery-woods for protection and utilize holes in trees as nesting cavities. Additionally, the nearby river provides them with opportunities for bathing.
While mass exportation is often blamed for their decline, expanding agriculture and deforestation have also taken a toll on their population. Local farmers may chase these birds to protect their crops or capture them for illegal export or even for consumption. Furthermore, it is possible that a viral or other disease contributed to the decline of the wild population. The Research Centre for African Parrot Conservation has recently launched a project to protect the Black-cheeked lovebird in its natural habitat.
Unfortunately, the impurity of many Black-cheeked lovebirds can be attributed to color mutations. When the blue variety emerged a few years ago, it was highly valued and expensive. In an attempt to make quick profits, some breeders took shortcuts by crossing Black-cheeked lovebirds with blue Masked lovebirds. Signs of impurity include a rump that shows a different color than the back, indicating hybridization, a facial mask that is excessively reddish (suggestive of earlier crosses with Fischer's or Nyasa lovebirds), and a mask that is overly black (indicating Masked lovebird influence). Additionally, both Black-cheeked and Nyasa lovebirds differ in type from the other two eye-ring species, as they are smaller and possess a more upright posture.
It is crucial to remember that the Black-cheeked lovebird is a threatened species, and it is of utmost importance to maintain a viable stock of pure Black-cheeked lovebirds to ensure their preservation.
Physical Characteristics:
Ideal size: Between 13 and 14 cm from head to tail end.
Head:
Forehead: Slightly rounded from the bill towards the back.
Crown: Slightly rounded.
Back of head: Slightly flattened.
Neck: May show some indentation.
Eyes: Centrally set, bright-radiating, and surrounded by a continuous pure white eye-ring.
Beak: Slender, short, curved, undamaged, well retracted, with the tip of the upper bill towards the breast and the lower bill fitting well into the upper bill.
Breast: Well filled, with an elegant curve following the curve of the wings.
Belly: Harmoniously fitting in line with the chest and not sagging.
Wings: Close to the body and upper tail coverts. All wing feathers intact, not drooping or crossing.
Feet: Short, sturdy legs with two toes forward and two back, all intact and gripping the perch well.
Nails: Evenly curved with an even color and undamaged.
Posture: Proud posture with body shapes as natural as possible and in complete harmony. The backline makes an angle of about 60 degrees with respect to the perch.
Feathering: Clean, complete, and slightly shiny.
Tail: Wedge-shaped and slightly rounded at the top.
Rump: In a straight line with the tail.
General Technical Notes:
The size and typical body posture of this species are important. Excessively large specimens are not desired.
Black spots or stripes in the feathers are incorrect.
Beak: Pink at the base, becoming pinkish-red.
The cere of the bill is white and intact.
Agapornis nigrigenis has a very typical mask shape. The mask begins halfway up the crown, curves around the eyes, and turns sharply into the pale orange muzzle at the throat level. The bib (upper breast spot) is in the shape of an inverted equilateral triangle with rounded corners and ends two cm below the beak tip. There is no tight delineation of the mask on the cheeks and crown.
No clear divisions are required for the different head colors.
The two middle tail feathers have no transverse markings.
Color Description:
Color name: Green
International term: Green
Forehead: Rusty brown with a minimal black forehead band at the bill base.
Crown: Dark rust brown changing to bronze green towards the back of the head.
Chin and cheeks: Black, gradually becoming brownish black towards the ear region.
Eyes: Dark brown with iris slightly lighter than the pupil, surrounded by a clear, white, and unfeathered eye-ring of cere.
Beak: Red. The bill is bleached upwards with a white bill belt at the base.
Bib: Pale orange.
Lower chest, flanks, belly, and a**l region: Green.
Mantle and wing feathers: A shade darker than the rest of the body.
Primary flight feathers: Green outer flag and black inner flag.
Wing bends: Yellow-green.
Rump and upper tail coverts: Green.
Under tail coverts: Green.
Tail feathers: Predominantly green with a paler tip. The secondary tail feathers have an orange-yellow spot in the middle that changes into a black transverse pattern.
Legs: Grey.
Nails: A shade darker gray than the legs.
