Black-bellied sunbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-bellied sunbird |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cinnyris
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| Species: |
nectarinioides
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| Synonyms | |
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Nectarinia nectarinioides |
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The black-bellied sunbird (Cinnyris nectarinioides) is a tiny, colorful bird found mostly in Africa. It's a type of sunbird, known for its bright feathers. There are two main kinds, or subspecies, of this bird. One is smaller and lives in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya. The other is a bit bigger and lives in Kenya and Tanzania.
These birds like to live in grassy areas called savannahs. They also live near rivers and wetlands. Black-bellied sunbirds are small, usually weighing only 4 to 6 grams. Males are about 13 cm long, and females are about 10 cm. They eat nectar from flowers, but also enjoy insects and spiders. Because they hunt spiders, some people call them "spiderhunters." They don't move to different places during the year. They stay in the same area all the time.
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What Does It Look Like?
The black-bellied sunbird has a special curved beak. This beak helps it drink nectar from flowers. These birds are quite small. Grown males are usually about 13 cm long. Females are a bit smaller, around 10 cm. Both weigh only 4 to 6 grams.
Male and female sunbirds look different. This is called sexual dimorphism. Their feathers, or plumage, change a bit too. Males look different when they are ready to breed compared to other times.
Male Sunbirds
When a male sunbird is ready to breed, its head, back, and throat are a shiny golden-green. The feathers near its tail are black. The rest of its upper tail is a dark, metallic blue. Some feathers might have purple or greenish-blue edges. They have a bright orange band across their chest. This band is redder in the smaller subspecies. They also have yellow tufts of feathers on their sides. Their beak and legs are black.
When males are not breeding, their upper feathers are a duller brown. Their belly feathers are a mix of white and yellow. This is sometimes called "eclipse plumage."
Female Sunbirds
Female sunbirds have yellow-olive feathers. They have dark brown streaks on their head. A special yellow streak above their eye helps to tell them apart. Their tail looks a bit like the male's. But it has white tips and edges. The middle of a female's belly is pale yellow. Their beak and legs are black, just like the males.
Where Do They Live?
The black-bellied sunbird lives mostly in Kenya. You can also find them in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Somalia. They like dry savannahs and areas with river plants. They also live in wetlands and freshwater areas.
These birds stay in the same place all year. They do not migrate to warmer places in winter. They are mostly found in the eastern part of Africa. In Kenya, they are quite common. But they are not as common in Somalia and are rare in Ethiopia. Even though they live in some protected areas, the birds themselves are not specially protected.
What Do They Eat?
The black-bellied sunbird's favorite food is nectar from flowers. But they also eat insects and spiders. To find insects and spiders, they often look high up in trees. When they drink nectar, they especially like acacia trees, baobab trees, and mistletoe plants.
Unlike hummingbirds, which can hover while they eat, black-bellied sunbirds do not float. Instead, they perch on the flowers to drink the nectar.
What Do They Sound Like?
The black-bellied sunbird makes a sound like "chip." They repeat this sound 6 to 20 times, very quickly. It sounds like 5 "chip" notes every second! They also make a short "tsi" note that goes up and down. This "tsi" sound gets faster near the end of their calls. Their whole song can last for more than 3 minutes.
