Black-collared lovebird

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Black-collared lovebird

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Agapornis
Species:
A. swindernianus
Binomial name
Agapornis swindernianus
(Kuhl, 1820)
Range map

The black-collared lovebird (Agapornis swindernianus) also known as Swindern's lovebird is a small, 13.5cm (5in) long, African

Agapornis and belongs to the Agapornithinae family. The black-collared lovebird is commonly found in areas of Africa such as Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo; Côte d'Ivoire; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Ghana; Liberia, and Uganda. They are most commonly found in forests with large trees and canopies where there is tropical and moist land.[2] It is a mostly green parrot with black band on the back of its neck, and a dark greyish-black bill. Both sexes are similar. It is rarely kept in captivity because of its dietary requirement for a native fig.[3]

Description

It is a mostly green parrot with black-collared nape, brownish red chest, greyish black bill, yellow iris and grey feet. Both sexes are similar.[3] More specifically, the head is mostly green, with a yellow neck and a narrow black hind collar.[4] Its bottom is a royal dark blue, and the rest of its upper body is dark green. The agapornis swindernianus has soft black feathers and orange-red markings on its outer tail feathers. The two genders are similar in their coloring. The young birds do not have the distinct black collar. The Dutch professor Theodore van Swinderen from the University of Groningen named the black-collared lovebird in 1820. The bird gets its name from the 'collar', identifiable from black feathers around its neck that resembles a collared shape. The zenkeri extension of the species contains a blood-orange stripe underneath its distinct collar.[5]

Taxonomy

There are three subspecies of the black-collared lovebird:

  • The nominate subspecies, A. s. swindernianus – Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana
  • Cameroon black-collared lovebird, A. s. zenkeri – Cameroon, Gabon and Congo
  • Ituri black-collared lovebird or Emin's lovebird, A. s. emini – Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

The black-collared lovebird was discovered by Heinrich Kuhl in 1820. The name commemorates the Dutch professor, Theodore van Swinderen of University of Groningen.

Distribution and habitat

The black-collared lovebird is distributed across a wide range in

primary forest trees or rarely in secondary growth, depending on the foliage level.[2]

Diet and Foraging

The agapornis swindernianus diet relies on fig seeds, African fruits Rauwolfia, Harungana, and Macaranga, and maize from the forest ground. They are known to forage for oil palm at dawn in small flocks and feed on seeds and berries; insects, including caterpillars and beetle larvae. Although the Agapornis Swindernianus will feed on food found on the ground level they are mostly spotted in tree tops above the canopies making them very difficult birds to spot.[2]

Vocal Behavior

The vocal behavior of the agapornis swindernianus has not been adequately recorded. There is not an exact pitch or sound that has been pinned to the bird.[4] The most common voice is a high-pitched, discordant "sri-lee". The bird makes a variety of chattering noises when perched. Big groups of birds tweet constantly.[2]

Conservation status

The black-collared lovebird is not globally threatened.

Bwamba lowlands, Uganda.[2]

Status

It is rare in some parts of its range. The range is so large that the population is difficult to estimate, but it is believed that the population is not under significant threat. The black-collared lovebird is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1]

Aviculture

Black-collared lovebirds are rarely kept in captivity or as

pets. They require certain native fig seed or fig flesh as a basis of their daily diet, and without these vital dietary necessities they do not normally thrive or breed well in captivity.[3]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22685338A130102440.en
    . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^
    doi:10.2173/bow.blclov2.01
    , retrieved 20 March 2024
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-86622-411-4
    .
  4. ^ a b c "Lynx lynx: von Arx, M." IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  5. ISSN 0888-8892
    .
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