Photo: Nigel Voaden from UK / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Gorgeous Sunbird
Cinnyris melanogastrus
Gorgeous Sunbird (Cinnyris melanogastrus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Gorgeous Sunbird (Cinnyris melanogastrus) is a member of the Nectariniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 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 Cinnyris
- Species melanogastrus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Gorgeous Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Gorgeous Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Gorgeous Sunbird (Cinnyris melanogastrus) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c, s Kenya and Tanzania.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7 g, with a wing length of about 5.6 cm and a tail of around 6.1 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 223,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Gorgeous Sunbird?
The Gorgeous Sunbird is a very small bird that weighs around 7 g.
Where does the Gorgeous Sunbird live?
The Gorgeous Sunbird is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, s Kenya and Tanzania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Gorgeous Sunbird belong to?
The Gorgeous Sunbird (Cinnyris melanogastrus) belongs to the Nectariniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Gorgeous Sunbird eat?
The Gorgeous Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Gorgeous Sunbird migrate?
The Gorgeous Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Gorgeous 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.
How large is the Gorgeous Sunbird's range?
The Gorgeous Sunbird has a mapped global range of about 223,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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