The Red-faced (or Red-headed) Lovebird (Agapornis pullarius) has a geographic distribution that overlaps with that of the Black-collared Lovebird (A. swindernianus) over much of central Africa, with Fischer's Lovebird (A. fischeri) in the area around southern Lake Victoria, and with the Black-winged Lovebird (A. taranta) in southwestern Ethiopia and its range approaches the range of Peach-faced Lovebird (A. roseicollis) in the Cuanza River region of Angola. It is distinguished from these and other lovebirds by the combination of green upper breast with red (or orange) crown, face, and throat.
This species has a broad but patchy distribution across West and Central Africa, inhabiting moist lowland , riverine woodland and scrub, and also more open habitats, including abandoned plantations, cultivated land, and pasture. It is generally found below 1500 m (but up to 2000 m in Uganda). Flocks contain up to 30 birds (usually fewer) but these break into pairs for breeding. Flocks roam widely to find food (mainly grass seeds), but return to a communal roost. In captivity, these lovebirds often sleep hanging upside down. Red-faced Lovebirds nest in tree cavities (usually ones excavated by a woodpecker), in holes dug in the side of an arboreal ant or termite nest, or occasionally in terrestrial termite mounds. Significant numbers of Red-faced Lovebirds are trapped for sale as cagebirds.
(Collar 1997 and references therein; Juniper and Parr 1998 and references therein)
Rights Holder: Leo Shapiro
