Black Sunbird
Leptocoma aspasia
Black Sunbird (Leptocoma aspasia) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Sunbird (Leptocoma aspasia) is a member of the Nectariniidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 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 Leptocoma
- Species aspasia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Sunbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Sunbird (Leptocoma aspasia) belongs to the Nectariniidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Sulawesi to Bismarck Arch.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8 g, with a wing length of about 5.5 cm and a tail of around 3.5 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 916,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Sunbird?
The Black Sunbird is a very small bird that weighs around 8 g.
Where does the Black Sunbird live?
The Black Sunbird is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Sulawesi to Bismarck Arch, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black Sunbird belong to?
The Black Sunbird (Leptocoma aspasia) belongs to the Nectariniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black Sunbird eat?
The Black Sunbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Black Sunbird migrate?
The Black Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black 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 Sunbird make?
1 real field recording of the Black 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 Black Sunbird's range?
The Black Sunbird has a mapped global range of about 916,000 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.