Photo: Francesco Veronesi / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird
Anthreptes orientalis
Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes orientalis) — 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 Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes orientalis) is a member of the Nectariniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 10.3 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 Anthreptes
- Species orientalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes orientalis) belongs to the Nectariniidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Ethiopia and c Somalia to South Sudan, Rwanda and s Tanzania.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.3 g, with a wing length of about 6.6 cm and a tail of around 5.2 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 1.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird?
The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird is a very small bird that weighs around 10.3 g.
Where does the Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird live?
The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird is found across Africa with a range covering AF Ethiopia and c Somalia to South Sudan, Rwanda and s Tanzania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird belong to?
The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes orientalis) belongs to the Nectariniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird eat?
The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird migrate?
The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Eastern Violet-backed 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 Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird make?
1 real field recording of the Eastern Violet-backed 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 Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird's range?
The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird has a mapped global range of about 1.9 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.
Explore more birds
More in Nectariniidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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.