Taxonomy Lovebird

phylogeny of genus agapornis based on molecular evidence. species red line unplaced in phylogeny, belong genus.

the lovebird genus comprises 9 species of 5 monotypic , 4 divided subspecies. 8 of them native in mainland of africa , madagascar lovebird native madagascar. in wild, different species separated geographically.

traditionally, lovebirds divided 3 groups:

the sexually dimorphic species: madagascar, abyssinian, , red-headed lovebird
the intermediate species: peach-faced lovebird
the white-eye-ringed species: masked, fischer s, lilian s, , black-cheeked lovebirds

however, division not supported phylogenetic studies, species of dimorphic group not grouped in single clade.

species , subspecies:

rosy-faced lovebird, agapornis roseicollis, (vieillot, 1818)—or peach-faced lovebird

agapornis roseicollis catumbella, b.p. hall, 1952
agapornis roseicollis roseicollis, (vieillot 1818)


yellow-collared lovebird, agapornis personatus, reichenow, 1887—or masked lovebird
fischer s lovebird, agapornis fischeri, reichenow, 1887
lilian s lovebird, agapornis lilianae, shelley, 1894—or nyasa lovebird
black-cheeked lovebird, agapornis nigrigenis, w.l. sclater, 1906
grey-headed lovebird, agapornis canus, (gmelin, 1788)—or madagascar lovebird

agapornis canus ablectaneus, bangs, 1918
agapornis canus canus, (gmelin, 1788)


black-winged lovebird, agapornis taranta, (stanley, 1814)—or abyssinian lovebird
red-headed lovebird, agapornis pullarius, (linnaeus, 1758)—or red-faced lovebird

agapornis pullarius pullarius, (linnaeus, 1758)
agapornis pullarius ugandae, neumann, 1908


black-collared lovebird, agapornis swindernianus, (kuhl, 1820)—or swindern s lovebird

agapornis swindernianus emini, neumann, 1908
agapornis swindernianus swindernianus, (kuhl, 1820)
agapornis swindernianus zenkeri, reichenow, 1895






^ eberhard, jessica r. (1998): evolution of nest-building behavior in agapornis parrots. auk 115(2):455-464.
^ le breton, kenny. lovebirds...getting started. usa: t.f.h. publications. pp. 84–98. isbn 0-86622-411-4. 
^ zoological nomenclature resource: psittaciformes (version 9.004) . www.zoonomen.net. 2008-07-05.