Variable Sunbird
Cinnyris venustus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyNectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
- GenusCinnyris (Cinnyris Sunbirds)
- SpeciesCinnyris venustus (Variable Sunbird)
The variable sunbird or yellow-bellied sunbird (Cinnyris venustus), formerly Nectarinia venusta, is a sunbird. The sunbirds are a group of small Old World passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed most of the time. The variable sunbird is a fairly common resident breeder in equatorial Africa. Two eggs are laid in a suspended nest in a tree. Wikipedia →
<5% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Sunbird sighting in Awash National Park, based on 5 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Awash National Park
Beautiful Sunbird
Cinnyris pulchellus
Shining Sunbird
Cinnyris habessinicus
Mariqua Sunbird
Cinnyris mariquensis
Nile Valley Sunbird
Hedydipna metallica
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Chalcomitra senegalensis
Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird
Anthreptes orientalis
Tacazze Sunbird
Nectarinia tacazze
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
Dinemellia dinemelli
Isabelline Wheatear
Oenanthe isabellina
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Somali Fiscal
Lanius somalicus
Greater Blue-eared Starling
Lamprotornis chalybaeus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Variable Sunbird in Awash National Park?
About 4% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Sunbird sighting in Awash National Park, based on 5 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Variable Sunbird in Awash National Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Variable Sunbird in Awash National Park in our monthly data.