Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tiny Sunbird
Cinnyris minullus
Tiny Sunbird (Cinnyris minullus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Tiny Sunbird (Cinnyris minullus) is a member of the Nectariniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 5.7 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 minullus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.7 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tiny 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 Tiny Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Tiny Sunbird (Cinnyris minullus) is a member of the Nectariniidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sierra Leone and Liberia to Uganda, DR Congo and Gabon and Bioko I.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.7 g, with a wing length of about 4.6 cm and a tail of around 3 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 1.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tiny Sunbird?
The Tiny Sunbird is a very small bird that weighs around 5.7 g.
Where does the Tiny Sunbird live?
The Tiny Sunbird is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sierra Leone and Liberia to Uganda, DR Congo and Gabon and Bioko I, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Tiny Sunbird belong to?
The Tiny Sunbird (Cinnyris minullus) belongs to the Nectariniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Tiny Sunbird eat?
The Tiny Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Tiny Sunbird migrate?
The Tiny Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Tiny 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 Tiny Sunbird make?
1 real field recording of the Tiny 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 Tiny Sunbird's range?
The Tiny Sunbird has a mapped global range of about 1.2 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.