Photo: Alan Manson / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Dusky Sunbird
Cinnyris fuscus
Dusky Sunbird (Cinnyris fuscus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Dusky Sunbird (Cinnyris fuscus) is a member of the Nectariniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 7.8 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 fuscus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.8 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dusky Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Dusky Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Dusky Sunbird (Cinnyris fuscus) belongs to the Nectariniidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF sw.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.8 g, with a wing length of about 5.5 cm and a tail of around 3.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dusky Sunbird?
The Dusky Sunbird is a very small bird that weighs around 7.8 g.
Where does the Dusky Sunbird live?
The Dusky Sunbird is found across Africa with a range covering AF sw, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Dusky Sunbird belong to?
The Dusky Sunbird (Cinnyris fuscus) belongs to the Nectariniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Dusky Sunbird eat?
The Dusky Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Dusky Sunbird migrate?
The Dusky Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Dusky 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 Dusky Sunbird make?
1 real field recording of the Dusky 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 Dusky Sunbird's range?
The Dusky Sunbird has a mapped global range of about 1.1 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.