Southern Zambia and formerly extreme northern Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls, with old uncertain records from Namibia (Caprivi Strip).
Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Trapping for the cage-bird trade, habitat loss, drought conditions, changing agricultural practices (from sorghum to maize), are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
In the dry season in large flocks of up to 800.
Food
Annual grass seeds, other seeds of annual herbs and ripening crop seeds. Also invertebrates, leaves, flowers, nectar, bark, lichen, resin and soil.
Voice
Loud and piercing shrieks, identical to those of other lovebirds.
Black-cheeked Lovebird (Agapornis nigrigenis) [XC585260]
by id from Nanzhila plains, Kafue National Park, Southern Province, Zambia (call)
Black-cheeked Lovebird (Agapornis nigrigenis) [XC585257]
by Dries Van de Loock from Nanzhila plains, Kafue National Park, Southern Province, Zambia (flight call)
Eggs (Guide)
Clutch Size: 4 - 6
Dimensions: 21 x 16 mm (slightly elliptical)
Subspecies
Sometimes treated as a subspecies of Lilian's Lovebird (Agapornis lilianae), from which separated by a 100 km block of unsuitable miombo (Brachystegia) woodland. Also on occasion lumped in single species with Fischer's Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri) and Yellow-collared Lovebird (Agapornis personatus). Perhaps best considered to form superspecies with all three.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet