Variable Sunbird
Variable SunbirdVariable SunbirdVariable Sunbird

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Bale Mountains National Park
13 Verified records at Bale Mountains National Park
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Sunbird sighting in Bale Mountains National Park, based on 13 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Bale Mountains National Park

Tacazze Sunbird
LC

Tacazze Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nectarinia tacazze

60–70% · Likely
Malachite Sunbird
LC

Malachite Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nectarinia famosa

5–10% · With luck
Collared Sunbird
LC

Collared Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hedydipna collaris

<5% · Rare
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
LC

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Insufficient data
Olive Sunbird
LC

Olive Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanomitra olivacea

Insufficient data
Abyssinian Thrush
LC

Abyssinian Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus abyssinicus

80–90% · Very likely
Streaky Seedeater
LC

Streaky Seedeater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crithagra striolata

80–90% · Very likely
Moorland Chat
LC

Moorland Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pinarochroa sordida

70–80% · Very likely
Baglafecht Weaver
LC

Baglafecht Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ploceus baglafecht

60–70% · Likely
Abyssinian Siskin
LC

Abyssinian Siskin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Serinus nigriceps

60–70% · Likely
Abyssinian Catbird

Abyssinian Catbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parophasma galinieri

50–60% · Likely
Thekla Lark
LC

Thekla Lark

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Galerida theklae

50–60% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
5–10
Feb
5–10
Mar
5–10
Apr
5–10
May
5–10
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
5–10
Sep
10–20
Oct
<5
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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

# Park Country Probability
1 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
60–70%
2 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
60–70%
3 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
50–60%
4 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
40–50%
5 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
6 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
7 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
20–30%
8 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
9 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
10 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
11 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
12 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
13 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
10–20%
14 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
15 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
10–20%
16 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
17 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
18 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
19 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
5–10%
20 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
21 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
22 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
23 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
5–10%
24 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
25 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
5–10%
26 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
<5%
27 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
28 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
29 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
<5%
30 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
31 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
32 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
33 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
34 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
35 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
36 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
37 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
38 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
39 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Variable Sunbird in Bale Mountains National Park?

About 8% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Sunbird sighting in Bale Mountains National Park, based on 13 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Variable Sunbird in Bale Mountains National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Variable Sunbird in Bale Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Bale Mountains National Park