Amethyst Sunbird
Chalcomitra amethystina
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyNectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
- GenusChalcomitra (African Dark Sunbirds)
- SpeciesChalcomitra amethystina (Amethyst Sunbird)
The amethyst sunbird, also called the black sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina), is a species of passerine bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is native to the Afrotropics, mostly south of the equator. They are commonly found in well-watered habitats, and undertake seasonal movements to visit flowering woodlands. The demise of some woodlands have impacted their numbers locally, but their range has also expanded along with the spread of wooded gardens. Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Selous Game Reserve
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Chalcomitra senegalensis
Purple-banded Sunbird
Cinnyris bifasciatus
Collared Sunbird
Hedydipna collaris
Olive Sunbird
Cyanomitra olivacea
Variable Sunbird
Cinnyris venustus
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
Tropical Boubou
Laniarius major
African Golden-Weaver
Ploceus subaureus
Green-backed Camaroptera
Camaroptera brachyura
African Pied Wagtail
Motacilla aguimp
Wire-tailed Swallow
Hirundo smithii
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
Plocepasser mahali
📅 Monthly Probability
Fewer than 5 records of Amethyst Sunbird at Selous Game Reserve — not enough to chart months honestly.
☀️ 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