Fischer's Lovebird - BirdLife Species Factsheet

Justification This species is listed as Near Threatened because it has experienced a moderately rapid population reduction in its restricted range owing to trapping for export. Although this has been halted, it could re-start, and any evidence of a greater population decline could qualify the species for a higher threat category.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Reichenow, 1887

Taxonomic source(s) Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

290,000 - 1,002,000

unset

136,000 km²

Yes

Range & population Agapornis fischeri is endemic to north-central Tanzania, where its historical range includes 14 locations (including three national parks)². Records from Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya apparently refer to feral birds and not to wild populations². It was very common in the past but, since the 1970s there has been a major population decline, caused principally by widespread trapping for the wild bird trade, with large flocks perhaps still occurring only around Ndutu and the Serengeti National Park^2,3.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It inhabits semi-arid woodland with Acacia, Adansonia, and Commiphora at 1,100-2,200 m, deforested grassland, cultivation with remnant Adansonia and Borassus palm savanna^2,3,5. In the Serengeti, it is present in all types of woodland⁵. Riverine forest dominated by Ficus, Ziziphus, Tamarindus, Aphania, Garcinia and Eckbergia is an important dry season habitat. The species is mostly granivorous, taking seeds from seedheads and off the ground. It also takes Acacia seeds directly from trees. It attends waterholes and other types of surface water daily to drink. Breeding takes place from January to April and in June and July. Most nests are situated 2-15 m above the ground in holes and cracks in dead trees or dead branches on living trees, but possibly sometimes in cliffs as well. Its clutch-size in captivity is three to eight eggs, with an incubation period of c.23 days and fledging period of 38 days⁵.

Threats It was the most commonly traded wild bird in the world in 1987 and was the most popular wild-caught parrot imported into the then European Economic Community, accounting for c.80% of the Psittacine exports from Tanzania⁴. Legal trapping for export has now been halted, but the population is still much lower than it was, and trade could re-start³. The species has hybridised with Yellow-collared Lovebird A. personata in the wild, but not within the species's natural range (there is range overlap but A. fischeri appears to be a non-breeding visitor to A. personata habitat^1,2) so this is unlikely to pose a threat.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II.

Conservation measures proposed Carry out surveys to obtain an up-to-date population estimate. Monitor population trends through regular surveys. Prevent trapping for export from starting again. Investigate the extent of hybridisation with A. personata.

References 1. N. Baker in litt. (1999). 2. Morton and Bhatia (1992). 3. Moyer (1995). 4. RSPB (1991). 5. del Hoyo et al. (1997).

Text account compilers Mike Evans (BirdLife International), Andrew O'Brien (BirdLife International), Pete Robertson (BirdLife International), Malcolm Starkey (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Neil Baker (Tanzania Bird Atlas Project)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Agapornis fischeri. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 4/1/2009

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, and BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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