Photo: Ioannis Magouras / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-throated Sunbird
Aethopyga saturata
Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata) is a member of the Nectariniidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 5.3 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 Aethopyga
- Species saturata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.3 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-throated 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 Black-throated Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata) is a member of the Nectariniidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Himalayas to s Vietnam.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.3 g, with a wing length of about 5.1 cm and a tail of around 6.2 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 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-throated Sunbird?
The Black-throated Sunbird is a very small bird that weighs around 5.3 g.
Where does the Black-throated Sunbird live?
The Black-throated Sunbird is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Himalayas to s Vietnam, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-throated Sunbird belong to?
The Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata) belongs to the Nectariniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-throated Sunbird eat?
The Black-throated Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Black-throated Sunbird migrate?
The Black-throated Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-throated 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-throated Sunbird make?
1 real field recording of the Black-throated 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-throated Sunbird's range?
The Black-throated Sunbird has a mapped global range of about 1.7 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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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.