Variable sunbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Variable sunbird |
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|---|---|
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| Male in the Serengeti, Tanzania | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cinnyris
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| Species: |
venustus
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The variable sunbird or yellow-bellied sunbird (Cinnyris venustus) is a small, colorful bird. It used to be called Nectarinia venusta. Sunbirds are a group of birds found in the Old World, which means parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. They mostly eat nectar from flowers. They also catch insects, especially when they are feeding their young ones.
These birds fly very fast and straight because they have short wings. Most sunbirds can hover in the air like a hummingbird to drink nectar. But they usually prefer to sit on a branch while they eat.
The variable sunbird is quite common in areas near the equator in Africa. They build a hanging nest in a tree and lay two eggs. You can find these birds in open woodlands and on farms.
About the Variable Sunbird
Variable sunbirds are small, only about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. They have thin, curved beaks that are perfect for reaching into flowers. Their tongues are like brushes and are shaped like tubes. Both their beaks and tongues help them drink nectar.
What Variable Sunbirds Look Like
The adult male variable sunbird is very shiny and colorful. Its head, throat, and the back of its neck are a glossy green color. It also has a maroon (reddish-brown) band across its chest.
Most male variable sunbirds have a yellow belly. But in some types of this bird, the belly can be orange or even white.
The female variable sunbird looks different from the male. She has grey-brown feathers on her upper body. Her belly is yellowish. She also has a clear pale stripe above her eye, which is called a supercilium.
When the male is not breeding, he looks more like the female. This is called his eclipse plumage. He will still have some green feathers, especially on his throat.
Sounds They Make
The variable sunbird makes a clear sound that sounds like tew-tew-tew-tew-tew.
Gallery
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male C. v. venustus, Gambia
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juvenile C. v. venustus, Gambia
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male C. v. falkensteini, Kenya
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female C. v. falkensteini, Kenya
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