Variable Sunbird
Variable SunbirdVariable SunbirdVariable Sunbird

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Masai Mara National Reserve
178 Verified records at Masai Mara National Reserve
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Sunbird sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 178 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Mariqua Sunbird
LC

Mariqua Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris mariquensis

10–20% · With luck
Purple-banded Sunbird
LC

Purple-banded Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

<5% · Rare
Beautiful Sunbird
LC

Beautiful Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris pulchellus

<5% · Rare
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
LC

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

10–20% · With luck
Collared Sunbird
LC

Collared Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hedydipna collaris

5–10% · With luck
Bronze Sunbird
LC

Bronze Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nectarinia kilimensis

<5% · Rare
Amethyst Sunbird
LC

Amethyst Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chalcomitra amethystina

<5% · Rare
Green-headed Sunbird
LC

Green-headed Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanomitra verticalis

<5% · Rare
Malachite Sunbird
LC

Malachite Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nectarinia famosa

Insufficient data
Golden-winged Sunbird
LC

Golden-winged Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Drepanorhynchus reichenowi

Insufficient data
Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

50–60% · Likely
Rüppell's Glossy-starling
LC

Rüppell's Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

50–60% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
5–10
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
5–10
Aug
5–10
Sep
10–20
Oct
10–20
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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

# Park Country Probability
1 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
60–70%
2 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
60–70%
3 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
50–60%
4 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
40–50%
5 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
6 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
7 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
20–30%
8 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
9 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
10 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
11 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
12 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
13 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
10–20%
14 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
15 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
10–20%
16 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
17 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
18 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
19 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
5–10%
20 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
21 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
22 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
23 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
5–10%
24 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
25 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
5–10%
26 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
<5%
27 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
28 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
29 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
<5%
30 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
31 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
32 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
33 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
34 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
35 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
36 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
37 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
38 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
39 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Variable Sunbird in Masai Mara National Reserve?

About 6% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Sunbird sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 178 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Variable Sunbird in Masai Mara National Reserve?

November has the highest sighting rate for Variable Sunbird in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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