Photo: ChriKo / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-bellied Sunbird
Cinnyris nectarinioides
Black-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris nectarinioides) — 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 Black-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris nectarinioides) is a member of the Nectariniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 4.8 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 nectarinioides
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.8 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 Black-bellied Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-bellied Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris nectarinioides) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 4.8 g, with a wing length of about 5.3 cm and a tail of around 5.1 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 497,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-bellied Sunbird?
The Black-bellied Sunbird is a very small bird that weighs around 4.8 g.
Where does the Black-bellied Sunbird live?
The Black-bellied Sunbird is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-bellied Sunbird belong to?
The Black-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris nectarinioides) belongs to the Nectariniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-bellied Sunbird eat?
The Black-bellied Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Black-bellied Sunbird migrate?
The Black-bellied Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-bellied 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 Black-bellied Sunbird make?
1 real field recording of the Black-bellied 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 Black-bellied Sunbird's range?
The Black-bellied Sunbird has a mapped global range of about 497,000 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
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.