Photo: Alan Manson / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Olive Sunbird
Cyanomitra olivacea
Olive Sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea) — 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 Olive Sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea) is a member of the Nectariniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 9.7 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 Cyanomitra
- Species olivacea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.7 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Olive Sunbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Olive Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Olive Sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.7 g, with a wing length of about 5.8 cm and a tail of around 4.6 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 5.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Olive Sunbird?
The Olive Sunbird is a very small bird that weighs around 9.7 g.
Where does the Olive Sunbird live?
The Olive Sunbird is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Olive Sunbird belong to?
The Olive Sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea) belongs to the Nectariniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Olive Sunbird eat?
The Olive Sunbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Olive Sunbird migrate?
The Olive Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Olive 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 Olive Sunbird make?
1 real field recording of the Olive Sunbird — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Olive Sunbird's range?
The Olive Sunbird has a mapped global range of about 5.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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