Variable Sunbird
Cinnyris venustus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyNectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
- GenusCinnyris (Cinnyris Sunbirds)
- SpeciesCinnyris venustus (Variable Sunbird)
The variable sunbird or yellow-bellied sunbird (Cinnyris venustus), formerly Nectarinia venusta, is a sunbird. The sunbirds are a group of small Old World passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed most of the time. The variable sunbird is a fairly common resident breeder in equatorial Africa. Two eggs are laid in a suspended nest in a tree. Wikipedia →
<5% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Sunbird sighting in Lower Zambezi National Park, based on 8 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Lower Zambezi National Park
White-breasted Sunbird
Cinnyris talatala
Purple-banded Sunbird
Cinnyris bifasciatus
Copper Sunbird
Cinnyris cupreus
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Chalcomitra senegalensis
Collared Sunbird
Hedydipna collaris
Amethyst Sunbird
Chalcomitra amethystina
Western Violet-backed Sunbird
Anthreptes longuemarei
Olive Sunbird
Cyanomitra olivacea
Meves's Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis mevesii
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
African Pied Wagtail
Motacilla aguimp
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Variable Sunbird in Lower Zambezi National Park?
About 4% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Sunbird sighting in Lower Zambezi National Park, based on 8 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Variable Sunbird in Lower Zambezi National Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Variable Sunbird in Lower Zambezi National Park in our monthly data.