Olive-bellied sunbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Olive-bellied sunbird |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Cinnyris
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| Species: |
chloropygius
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The olive-bellied sunbird (Cinnyris chloropygius) is a small, colorful bird. It belongs to the Nectariniidae family, which are often called sunbirds. These birds are found all over the tropical rainforests of Africa.
Contents
What it Looks Like
The olive-bellied sunbird is a tiny bird. It looks a lot like another bird called the tiny sunbird.
Male Sunbirds
Adult male olive-bellied sunbirds are very striking. Their head, back, and throat shine with a metallic green color. Their wings are dark brown. A metallic blue color covers their rump, and their tail is black with a purplish-blue shimmer.
They have a thin blue band across their chest. Below this, there is a wider patch of bright red. They also have bright lemon-yellow tufts of feathers under their wings, near their chest. Their belly is olive green.
The main difference from the tiny sunbird is that the olive-bellied sunbird has a bigger beak. It also does not have blue lines within its red chest feathers.
Female Sunbirds
Adult female olive-bellied sunbirds look different from the males. Their head and upper body are olive-brown. Their wings and tail are dark brown.
The feathers on their belly and underside are olive with a wash of yellow. They look more yellow and have fewer streaks than female tiny sunbirds.
Life and Habits
Olive-bellied sunbirds usually move around alone or in pairs. Sometimes, you might see them in small groups of about six birds.
What They Eat
These birds look for food in the lower parts of the forest trees. They eat many different things, including caterpillars, beetles, and spiders. They also enjoy nectar from flowers, the flowers themselves, and seeds.
Their Territory and Nests
Male olive-bellied sunbirds protect their space. They will chase away other olive-bellied sunbirds and even tiny sunbirds that come too close.
Their nest is built from grasses, strips of bark, and leaves. It can look a bit messy on the outside. Inside, the nest is lined with very fine, soft materials. The female bird does all the work of sitting on the eggs to keep them warm until they hatch.
Conservation Status
The olive-bellied sunbird is a common bird. It lives across a very large area. Experts believe that the number of these birds is staying steady.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a group that checks on animals around the world. They have looked at the olive-bellied sunbird. They decided it is a species of "least concern". This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
