Tiny sunbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tiny sunbird |
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_male_Ankasa.jpg) |
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| male, Ankasa, Ghana | |
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| female, Bioko, Equatorial Guinea | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cinnyris
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| Species: |
minullus
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| Synonyms | |
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The tiny sunbird (Cinnyris minullus) is a super small and colorful bird. It belongs to the Nectariniidae family, which are often called sunbirds. These birds are found scattered across the warm, wet African tropical rainforests.
Contents
What Does the Tiny Sunbird Look Like?
The tiny sunbird is the smallest bird in its group, called a genus. It's really tiny!
Male Tiny Sunbird's Colors
- The adult male has a shiny, metallic green head, back, and throat.
- Its wings are dark brown.
- It has a bright, metallic blue rump (the area above its tail).
- Its tail is black with a cool purplish-blue shine.
- On its chest, it has a thin blue stripe above a wider, bright red stripe.
- It also has bright yellow tufts of feathers under its wings, near its chest.
- Its belly is a dark olive color.
Female Tiny Sunbird's Colors
- The adult female looks a bit different. Her head and upper body are olive-brown.
- Her wings and tail are dark brown.
- She has a yellowish stripe above her eye, called a supercilium.
- Her throat is grey, and her belly is olive with a yellowish tint.
Eyes, Beak, and Legs
Both male and female tiny sunbirds have dark brown eyes. Their beaks and legs are black. Young tiny sunbirds look a lot like the adult females.
Where Does the Tiny Sunbird Live and What Does It Eat?
The tiny sunbird loves to live in forests. You can find it in:
- Old, untouched forests
- Newer forests that are growing back
- The edges of forests
- Open areas within forests
- Even around villages where there are scattered trees
How They Find Food
These birds usually search for food high up in the trees. They often forage alone or in pairs. Sometimes, they join small groups of different bird species looking for food together.
What's on the Menu?
The tiny sunbird has a varied diet. It enjoys:
- Nectar from flowers (like hummingbirds!)
- Small insects
- Spiders
Is the Tiny Sunbird Safe?
The tiny sunbird is found in many places and is generally not rare. This means there are lots of them around!
Where They Are Found
- They are common in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- However, they are harder to find in Nigeria, mainland Equatorial Guinea, and Uganda.
Conservation Status
The tiny sunbird lives across a very large area. Experts believe their numbers are staying steady, meaning they are not decreasing. No big threats have been found for this bird. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (a group that checks on animals) says the tiny sunbird is a "least concern" species. This is good news, as it means they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
