Justification This species is listed as Near Threatened because its moderately small population may be in decline. If the total population was found to be smaller, it may qualify for a higher threat category.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Shelley, 1894

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

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000-19,999

unset

129,000 km²

No

Range & population Agapornis lilianae occurs along the Zambezi Valley in Mozambique and into Zimbabwe, northwards along the Luangwa River into Zambia and southern Tanzania, and along the Shire River into Malawi. Although it has been described as common in most of its range¹, the total population is estimated to number less than 20,000 birds³. The global range may be less than 20,000 km^{2 3}.

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

Ecology: The species has a strong association with mopane Colophospermum mopane woodland in the south of its range, but also inhabits belts of Acacia on aluvium and riparian forest, and frequents fig trees in the north of its range⁵. It feeds on grass seeds, including Hyparrhenia, millet and wild rice Oryza perennis, but also takes flowers, seeds and fruit of other species. Breeding takes place from January to March and in June and July in Zambia, with laying possibly occurring in January and February in Malawi, and young have been observed during April in Zimbabwe. The nest is a roofed structure in crevices in mopane trees. In captivity the clutch-size is three to eight eggs, with an incubation period of c.22 days and a fledging period of 44 days⁵.

Threats Its population has been reduced considerably by flooding of a large section of the Zambezi valley by Lake Kariba, and very likely also by the Cahorra Bassa Dam in Mozambique. It is considered a pest by small-scale farmers². In addition to legal trapping of large numbers for the international cage-bird trade (over 10,000 since 1981 when it was listed on CITES Appendix II³), many are captured and sold locally in Mozambique, and the species is also captured and traded in Zimbabwe and Zambia⁴.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II.

Conservation measures proposed Carry out surveys to obtain an overall population estimate. Monitor population trends through regular surveys. Control or halt trapping and trade in order to prevent over-exploitation.

References 1. Collar (1997). 2. Harrison et al. (1997). 3. UNEP-WCMC CITES Trade Database, January 2005. 4. V. Parker in litt. (2003). 5. del Hoyo et al. (1997).

Text account compilers Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Vincent Parker (Endangered Wildlife Trust)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Agapornis lilianae. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

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, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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