Fischer's Lovebird

Agapornis fischeri

Of 12,7 to 15 cm in length and a weight between 42 and 58 g..

The Fischer's Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri) has a frontal band, the lores and cheeks bright red with an orange shaded in red chin and throat. Upper chest is orange-yellow; crown and nape They are brown. Width collar adjacent yellowish brown and yellowish orange band at the top of chest.

The the mantle, scapulars and front of the rump, are green; the back of the rump and uppertail-coverts dark blue. Upper, the wing-coverts green; primaries and secondaries blackish brown with green edges to the vane outer. Under, the wing-coverts green; underside of flight feather grey-black. The low area chest up to the undertail- coverts pale yellowish green.

Tail bluish green, tipped yellow and bordered by a black line.

The bill is red, whitish towards the base of the upper jaw; cere white; irises brown; periophthalmic ring white of a 2 mm; legs pale grey.

Both sexes similar, indeed there no sexual dimorphism Between both.
One method that is very effective in distinguishing the sex of our Fischer's Lovebird It is the bone of the pelvis, being more open in females than in males.

The immature They have reduced the blue in the uppertail-coverts and they are both duller than adults, particularly on neck, the head and the chest; black markings, sometimes at the base of the upper jaw.

• Sound of the Fischer's Lovebird.

The Fischer's Lovebird They inhabit wooded grasslands with acacias, Commiphora; especially in the west, also in more open grasslands with Adansonia and cultivated areas. More common in sheets with different types of acacias and trees of the genus Egyptian balanites; also in terrestrial flora zones including Penisetum, Digitaria, Themeda and pastures Eustachys.

In the south of its range They are present in the forest with palm trees Borassus aethiopum.

When the season is dry, They can also be seen in areas of riverine forests Ficus, Boolean, Tamarindus, Aphania, Garcinia and Eckberg.

Avoid wooded savannah type miombo.

usually in altitude between 1,100-2.000 m. Often near water, especially in hot weather.

Gregarious, at least outside the breeding season , and generally in small flocks. Sometimes more important meetings form, for example, where abundant food.

In Tanzania They meet roosting nests leveraging Rufous-tailed Weaver (Histurgops ruficauda).

The main known predators Fischer's Lovebird they are the Borni Falcon (Falco biarmicus).

The Fischer's Lovebird They breed in colonies.

The breeding It takes place from January to April and in June and July, coinciding with the dry season; the exact timing depends on the locality.

Most of the nests They are located 2.15 meters above the ground, at the base of leaves overhead palm, in the holes and cracks of dead trees or dead branches and live trees, sometimes nest on cliffs.

The nest It comprises grass stalks and peel strips carried by the female in his beak.

The Clutch size in captivity is three to eight eggs, with a period of incubation of 23 days and period incipient of 38 days.

The diet of the Fischer's Lovebird is mainly granivorous. It feeds on seeds such as Pennisetum mezianum, also it feeds millet and corn, although the species does not come to be considered a serious pest for crops; Also they take seeds Acacia directly from trees, grass Achyranths asper, fallen berries and fruit Ficus, Rhus shaggy and Commiphora.

They need to drink daily.

The Fischer's Lovebird They are endemic to the north and northwest Tanzania from Kondoa in the South-East, Serengeti National Park, in the north and the Lago Manyara in the East; possibly closer to the border Kenya in some areas.

In Rwanda and Burundi the species is either a recent natural settler, or I asilvestrado from 1970, or an irruptive visitor in response to drought.

Observed on the islands Ukerewe and KNIT in southern Lago Victoria.

Wild populations established in the region Dar es Salaam and Thong in Tanzania, and around Mombasa, Nairobi, Naivasha and Isiolo, in Kenya.

Probably some Local movements in the dry season with irruptions in drought years. Within its tiny range, is a common bird, with large flocks in some areas, scarce and seemingly in decline, especially outside protected areas where low density is attributed to the capture for trade.

There is a self-sustaining wild population derived from escapes from captivity in Southeast France, where Yellow-collared Lovebird (Agapornis personatus) also they escaped, along with hybrids also observed.

A big number of Fischer's Lovebird in captivity.

• Current Red List of UICN: Near threatened

• Population trend: Decreasing

The population of the Fischer's Lovebird release has been estimated to range between 290.205 and 1.002.210 birds.

There has been a significant population decline Since the Decade of 1970, mainly because of widespread trapping for the wild bird trade.

The Fischer's Lovebird wild bird was the most traded in the world 1987 and was the most popular wild parrot imported into the then European economic community, representing about 80% exports of parrots in Tanzania (RSPB 1991).

The legal collection for export has been stopped, but the population remains much lower than it was, and trade could start again (Moyer 1995).

The species hybridized with the Yellow-collared Lovebird (Agapornis personatus) in the nature, but not within the natural range of the species (there is a range of overlap but the Fischer's Lovebird It appears to be a non-breeding visitor habitat Yellow-collared Lovebird [N. Baker a slightly. 1999, Morton y Bhatia 1992]) so this is unlikely to pose a threat.

Conservation Actions Proposed

– Conduct surveys to obtain an estimate of the population-date.
– Monitor population trends through regular surveys.
– It prevent capture for export to start again. Investigate the extent of hybridization with the Yellow-collared Lovebird (Agapornis personatus).

The Fischer's Lovebird They have been kept as pets from, approximately, mid-sixteenth century. They became part of the trade in live birds 1926. The first successful captive breeding of Agapornis fischeri It was documented 11 in January of 1928. For the year 1931, the berlin zoo (Germany) they had raised 68 copies successfully in captivity. Today they are bred and sold as pets, mainly in the United States and Europe. In 1987 was the most traded bird species in the world.

The Fischer's Lovebird they are difficult birds to keep healthy in captivity. Son active birds they need a lot of space. When you are confined in a cage, health tends to deteriorate. Instead of being active and vocal, often they sit on the floor of the cage in a corner. physical problems such as negative young and the overweight also they shortened their longevity.

Being very active birds and require wide cage (a minimum of 50 x 50 x 75 cm. to a bird and 65 x 65 x 75 cm for a couple.). It is appropriate to give a little spot inside the cage to hide in when they feel insecure.

Surprisingly, they don't seem to have much trouble acclimatizing to cold weather even though their original habitat is tropical. If they kept away from drafts, they can withstand the long winters on other continents.

If allowed out of his cage must be very careful not to have utensils close that they can damage or may damage, they are avid chewers, they have strong beaks and can quickly cause damage.

They are very vocal birds and their shrill noise can be a nuisance.
.
Of all species of Lovebirds, the Fischer's Lovebird He is known to be the most acrobatic.

With regard to its longevity, a demographic study suggested that these birds are aging rapidly with maximum longevity 7,7 years. An exemplary, as indicated sources, lived 12.6 years in captivity. Maximum longevity could be underestimated; More studies are needed. It has also been informed by other sources that these animals can live up 32,2 years in captivity, but this has not been verified.

– Fischer’s Lovebird (English).
– Inséparable de Fischer (French).
– Pfirsichköpfchen (German).
– Inseparável-de-fisher (Portuguese).
– Inseparable de Fischer, Agapornis Fischer (español).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittaculidae
– Genus: Lovebirds
– Scientific name: Agapornis fischeri
– Citation: Reichenow, 1887
– Protonimo: Agapornis Fischeri

Fischer's Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri)

Sources:

– Avibase
– Parrots of the World – Forshaw Joseph M
– Parrots A Guide to the Parrots of the World – Tony Juniper & Mike Parr
– Birdlife

– Photos:

(1) – Fischer’s Lovebird, (Agapornis fischeri); side view of a pet on a perch By Peter Békési (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(2) – Two Fischer’s Lovebirds, (Agapornis fischeri). Pets on a perch By Peter Békési from Budapest, Hungary (IMG_2303) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(3) – Three Fischer’s Lovebirds at Ueno Zoo, Japan By Agapornis_fischeri_-Ueno_Zoo,_Japan_-three-8a.jpg: Takashi Hososhima from Tokyo, Japanderivative work: Snowmanradio [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(4) – Fischer’s Lovebirds, Agapornis fischeri, social grooming By Peter Békési (originally posted to Flickr as IMG_0692) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(5) – Fischer’s Lovebird perching on a branch in captivity By Françoise Walthéry from Bruxelles, Belgium (8_Buiten_reeks_8) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(6) – Fischer’s Lovebirds at World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park in Cape Town, South Africa By Mara 1 (originally posted to Flickr as I Love You !) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(7) – Fischer’s Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri). Two on a branch By Lucia Smit (originally posted to Flickr as Sonny & Cher) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(8) – Fischer’s Lovebirds, Agapornis fischeri By Peter Békési (originally posted to Flickr as IMG_0736) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(9) – A group of Fischer’s Lovebirds feeding at Ueno Zoo, Japan By kanegen (originally posted to Flickr as Ueno Zoo) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(10) – Fischer’s Lovebird, (Agapornis fischeri) perching on a box By Peter Békési (Flickr) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

– Sounds: Rory Nefdt (Xeno-canto)