Yellow-bellied sunbird-asity facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow-bellied sunbird-asity |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Philepittidae |
| Genus: | Neodrepanis |
| Species: |
N. hypoxantha
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| Binomial name | |
| Neodrepanis hypoxantha Salomonsen, 1933
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The yellow-bellied sunbird-asity (Neodrepanis hypoxantha) is a small, colorful bird. It belongs to the asity family. You can find it only in the rainforests of Madagascar. This bird loves to sip nectar from flowers. It even defends its favorite flower patches! Sadly, this bird is considered "vulnerable". This means its home is shrinking because of deforestation and habitat fragmentation.
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About the Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity
What Does It Look Like?
Male yellow-bellied sunbird-asities are very bright. They have sunny yellow undersides. Their upper parts are dark black with a shiny blue glow. Female birds are not as colorful.
Around each eye, this bird has a bright blue ring. This ring is called a wattle. Its blue color comes from special parts called collagen. The bird also has a long, curved beak. This beak is perfect for reaching deep into flowers to drink nectar.
Where Does It Live?
This special bird lives only in Madagascar. It prefers mountain forests that are very high up. You can find them above 1,600 meters (about 5,250 feet).
What Does It Eat?
Yellow-bellied sunbird-asities are very active when they feed. They mostly drink nectar from flowers. If they find a good source of nectar, they will protect it. They chase away other sunbird-asities and even other types of sunbirds.
Why This Bird Needs Our Help
The yellow-bellied sunbird-asity is listed as "vulnerable". This means it is at risk of becoming endangered. Organizations like BirdLife International and the IUCN keep track of this.
Years ago, people thought this bird might be extinct. This was because scientists had not explored its high mountain home very much. Later, more studies showed that there were more of these birds than first thought. However, they are still in danger. Their forest homes are getting smaller. The forests are also breaking into smaller pieces. This makes it harder for the birds to find food and safe places to live.
 | Jessica Watkins |
 | Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. |
 | Mae Jemison |
 | Sian Proctor |
 | Guion Bluford |
