Black-bellied Sunbird
Cinnyris nectarinioides
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyNectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
- GenusCinnyris (Cinnyris Sunbirds)
- SpeciesCinnyris nectarinioides (Black-bellied Sunbird)
The black-bellied sunbird (Cinnyris nectarinioides) is a small sunbird located primarily in Africa. Two subspecies are recognized: the Cinnyris nectarinioides erlangeri, which is smaller and found in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya; and the Cinnyris nectarinioides nectarinioides, which is larger and found in Kenya and Tanzania. This bird inhabits savannah, wetlands, and terrestrial freshwater areas. This species has an average size of 13cm for males and 10 cm for females with both weights typically ranging from 4 to 6 grams. The black-bellied sunbird feeds on nectar, insects and spiders, the latter having gained it the nickname "spiderhunter". They forage in the higher levels of trees and perch in order to feed. Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Black-bellied Sunbird sighting in Tsavo West National Park, based on 171 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Tsavo West National Park
Tsavo Sunbird
Cinnyris tsavoensis
Variable Sunbird
Cinnyris venustus
Usambara Double-collared Sunbird
Cinnyris usambaricus
Purple-banded Sunbird
Cinnyris bifasciatus
Beautiful Sunbird
Cinnyris pulchellus
Eastern Double-collared Sunbird
Cinnyris mediocris
Mariqua Sunbird
Cinnyris mariquensis
Violet-breasted Sunbird
Cinnyris chalcomelas
Hunter's Sunbird
Chalcomitra hunteri
Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird
Anthreptes orientalis
Amethyst Sunbird
Chalcomitra amethystina
Collared Sunbird
Hedydipna collaris
📅 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
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 2 | Mkomazi National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 3 | Samburu National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 4 | Tsavo West National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 5 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 6 | Amboseli National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Black-bellied Sunbird in Tsavo West National Park?
About 16% of wildlife watchers report a Black-bellied Sunbird sighting in Tsavo West National Park, based on 171 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Black-bellied Sunbird in Tsavo West National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Black-bellied Sunbird in Tsavo West National Park in our monthly data.