By David Woolcock, curator, Paradise Park, Hayle, Cornwall

The Black-cheeked Lovebird (Agapornis nigrigensis) is one of nine species of lovebirds found in the genus Agapornis.  More commonly kept species found in this genus include the Fischer’s, Peach-faced and Masked Lovebirds. Lovebirds tend to fall roughly into one of two groups.  The first group consists of Fischer’s, Masked, Nyasa and Black- cheeked, all of which exhibit naked periophthalmic rings (obvious white rings around the eyes) and in which there is no visual differences between the sexes.  The second group consists of three species, Madagascar, Red-faced and Abyssinian or Black-winged - none of which have naked periophthalmic rings, but all show marked visual differences between the male and the female.

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