Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Plain-backed Sunbird
Anthreptes reichenowi
Plain-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes reichenowi) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Plain-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes reichenowi) is a member of the Nectariniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 7.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Nectariniidae Sunbirds
- Genus Anthreptes
- Species reichenowi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.3 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Plain-backed Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Plain-backed Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Plain-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes reichenowi) belongs to the Nectariniidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, se.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.3 g, with a wing length of about 5.4 cm and a tail of around 3.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 438,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Plain-backed Sunbird?
The Plain-backed Sunbird is a very small bird that weighs around 7.3 g.
Where does the Plain-backed Sunbird live?
The Plain-backed Sunbird is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, se, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Plain-backed Sunbird belong to?
The Plain-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes reichenowi) belongs to the Nectariniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Plain-backed Sunbird eat?
The Plain-backed Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Plain-backed Sunbird migrate?
The Plain-backed Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Plain-backed Sunbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Plain-backed Sunbird make?
1 real field recording of the Plain-backed Sunbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Plain-backed Sunbird's range?
The Plain-backed Sunbird has a mapped global range of about 438,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Nectariniidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.