Variable Sunbird
Variable SunbirdVariable SunbirdVariable Sunbird

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Virunga National Park
1,059 Verified records at Virunga National Park
May 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 →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Sunbird sighting in Virunga National Park, based on 1,059 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Virunga National Park

Northern Double-collared Sunbird
LC

Northern Double-collared Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris reichenowi

30–40% · Possible
Regal Sunbird
LC

Regal Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris regius

20–30% · Possible
Red-chested Sunbird
LC

Red-chested Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris erythrocercus

10–20% · With luck
Stuhlmann's Sunbird
LC

Stuhlmann's Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris stuhlmanni

5–10% · With luck
Olive-bellied Sunbird
LC

Olive-bellied Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris chloropygius

<5% · Rare
Copper Sunbird
LC

Copper Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris cupreus

<5% · Rare
Tiny Sunbird
LC

Tiny Sunbird

Bird

Cinnyris minullus

<5% · Rare
Mariqua Sunbird
LC

Mariqua Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris mariquensis

<5% · Rare
Purple-banded Sunbird
LC

Purple-banded Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

<5% · Rare
Beautiful Sunbird
LC

Beautiful Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris pulchellus

Insufficient data
Orange-tufted Sunbird
LC

Orange-tufted Sunbird

Bird

Cinnyris bouvieri

Insufficient data
Superb Sunbird

Superb Sunbird

Bird

Cinnyris superbus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
30–40
Mar
20–30
Apr
40–50
May
20–30
Jun
10–20
Jul
20–30
Aug
10–20
Sep
20–30
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
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 Virunga National Park?

About 25% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Sunbird sighting in Virunga National Park, based on 1,059 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

May has the highest sighting rate for Variable Sunbird in Virunga National Park in our monthly data.

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