- Lilian's Lovebird
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Lilian's Lovebird Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Genus: Agapornis Species: A. lilianae Binomial name Agapornis lilianae
Shelley, 1896Range in red. The Lilian's Lovebird (Agapornis lilianae), also known as Nyasa Lovebird, is a small African parrot species of the lovebird genus. It is mainly green and has orange on its upper chest and head. It is 13 cm (5 inches) long and is the smallest parrot on mainland Africa. In captivity it is uncommon and difficult to breed.
Contents
Description
The Lilian's Lovebird is 13 cm (5 inches) long and is mainly green with white eyerings. It has orange on its head, neck and upper chest and has a green rump. Male and female are identical in external appearance.[1]
The Lilian's Lovebird is often mistaken for the slightly larger Fischer's Lovebird, which has an olive-green hood and a blue rump. It is also broadly similar to the Peach-faced Lovebird, which has more clearly demarcated orange colouration, and lacks a white eyering,.[1]
Behaviour
Food and feeding
Lilian's Lovebird feeds on grass seeds, millet, wild rice, flowers, and the seeds and fruit of other species.[2]
Breeding
The Breeding season for Lilian's Lovebirds is from January to March and in June and July. They make a roofed nest in tree crevices. In captivity the clutch consists of three to eight white eggs, which are incubated for about 22 days, and the chicks leave the nest after about 44 days from hatching.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Lilian's Lovebird is endemic to Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In 2004 its numbers in the wild were estimated to be less than 20,000 individuals.[3] It currently inhabits Liwonde National Park (LNP) and a few cluster groups occur in the surrounding forests outside LNP. Its distribution is rapidly becoming restricted to LNP because their feeding and breeding habitats are being exploited over for agricultural purposes. The extent of habitat loss outside LNP has not been determined scientifically although remaining habitat outside the LNP are fragmented Miombo Forest Reserves.
Threats
Liwonde National Park is located in the southern region of Malawi, which has the highest human population density in the country approximating 100-115 inhabitants per km² (FAO, 1997). LNP is greatly impacted by population growth and agricultural activities than any other national park in the country. Recently, cases of Lilian's Lovebird poisoning have intensified although it is not known why poachers are poisoning the birds. Lilian's Lovebird researchers assume poachers mean to poison larger mammals and Lovebirds fall victims.
Aviculture
Lilian's Lovebird is a difficult species to rear in captivity.[1] Many breeders worldwide struggle to breed the species.
References
- ^ a b c Le Breton, Kenny. Lovebirds...getting started. USA: T.F.H. Publications. pp. 88–89. ISBN 0866224114.
- ^ a b "Species factsheet: Agapornis lilianae". BirdLife International (2008). http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1513&m=0. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
- ^ BirdLife International (2004). Agapornis lilianae. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is near threatened.
Tribus: Psittaculini Genus Species (taxonomy note: * Réunion Parakeet and Mauritius Parakeet may united as subspecies or split as separate species)
(extinctions: † indicates a species confirmed to be extinct, ₴ indicates evidence only from sub-fossils)Psittinus Psittacella Brehm's Tiger Parrot • Painted Tiger Parrot • Modest Tiger Parrot • Madarasz's Tiger ParrotGeoffroyus Red-cheeked Parrot (or Singing Parrot) • Blue-collared Parrot • Song ParrotPrioniturus Montane Racket-tail • Mindanao Racket-tail • Blue-headed Racket-tail • Green Racket-tail • Blue-crowned Racket-tail • Blue-winged Racket-tail (or Sulu Racket-tail) • Yellow-breasted Racket-tail • Golden-mantled Racket-tail • Buru Racket-tailTanygnathus Eclectus Alisterus Aprosmictus Jonquil Parrot (or Olive-shouldered Parrot) • Red-winged ParrotPolytelis Psittacula Alexandrine Parakeet (or Alexandrine Parrot) • Seychelles Parakeet † • Rose-ringed Parakeet (or Ringnecked Parakeet) • Réunion Parakeet † * • Mauritius Parakeet * • Newton's Parakeet † • Slaty-headed Parakeet • Grey-headed Parakeet • Plum-headed Parakeet • Blossom-headed Parakeet • Lord Derby's Parakeet • Red-breasted Parakeet • Nicobar Parakeet • Long-tailed ParakeetLoriculus Vernal Hanging Parrot • Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot • Philippine Hanging Parrot (supporting pages: Cebu Hanging Parrot and Camiguin Hanging Parrot) • Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot • Great Hanging Parrot (or Sulawesi Hanging Parrot) • Sula Hanging Parrot • Moluccan Hanging Parrot • Sangihe Hanging Parrot • Orange-fronted Hanging Parrot (or Papuan Hanging Parrot) • Bismarck Hanging Parrot (or Green-fronted Hanging Parrot • Pygmy Hanging Parrot (or Red-billed Hanging Parrot) • Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot • Wallace's Hanging Parrot • Camiguin Hanging ParrotAgapornis Rosy-faced Lovebird (supporting page: Rosy-faced Lovebird colour genetics) • Yellow-collared Lovebird (or Masked Lovebird ) • Fischer's Lovebird • Lilian's Lovebird • Black-cheeked Lovebird • Grey-headed Lovebird (or Madagascar Lovebird) • Black-winged Lovebird (or Abyssinian Lovebird) • Red-headed Lovebird (or Red-faced Lovebird) • Black-collared Lovebirdincertae sedis
(probably Psittaculini)Mascarene Parrot † (genus: Mascarinus) • Broad-billed Parrot † (genus: Lophopsittacus) • Rodrigues Parrot † (genus: Necropsittacus)This article relating to parrots is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.