Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Malachite Sunbird

Nectarinia famosa (Linnaeus, 1766)

14 gWeight

The malachite sunbird (Nectarinia famosa) is a small nectarivorous bird found from the highlands of Ethiopia southwards to South Africa.

Busiest months: September–November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: September–November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania

Malachite Sunbird has been recorded at 114 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 13 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Kirstenbosch Botanical GardenSouth Africa1,525 records
  2. Harold Porter Botanical GardensSouth Africa504 records
  3. West Coast NPSouth Africa413 records
More places
  1. Rooi-ElsSouth Africa393 records
  2. Sani Pass (ZA) – low elevationSouth Africa347 records
  3. Table Mt. NP – Cape Point SectionSouth Africa340 records
  4. De Hoop Nature ReserveSouth Africa179 records
  5. Table Mt. NP – Cape of Good HopeSouth Africa152 records
  6. West Coast NP – Geelbek hides vicinitySouth Africa135 records
  7. West Coast NP – Abrahamskraal hideSouth Africa133 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaKenyaTanzaniaLesothoEswatiniMalawiUgandaZimbabwe

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The malachite sunbird (Nectarinia famosa) is a small nectarivorous bird found from the highlands of Ethiopia southwards to South Africa. They pollinate many flowering plants, particularly those with long corolla tubes, in the Fynbos.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Malachite Sunbird?

The Malachite Sunbird weighs around 14 g.

Where does the Malachite Sunbird live?

Its breeding range: Africa: eastern, southeastern. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

When is the best time to see the Malachite Sunbird?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in September, October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Malachite Sunbird endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Malachite Sunbird as Least Concern.

What does the Malachite Sunbird eat?

Main food: Omnivore.

What family is the Malachite Sunbird in?

It belongs to the family Sunbirds (Nectariniidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Weight
14 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Omnivore
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
69 mm
Tail
82 mm
Bill
31 mm
Tarsus
16 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: eastern, southeastern

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Sunbirds Nectariniidae
Genus
Nectarinia

Other birds in the genus Nectarinia

Bocage's SunbirdBocage's SunbirdNectarinia bocagiiPurple-breasted SunbirdPurple-breasted SunbirdNectarinia purpureiventrisTacazze SunbirdTacazze SunbirdNectarinia tacazzeBronze SunbirdBronze SunbirdNectarinia kilimensisScarlet-tufted SunbirdScarlet-tufted SunbirdNectarinia johnstoniRuby-cheeked SunbirdRuby-cheeked SunbirdChalcoparia singalensisFraser's SunbirdFraser's SunbirdDeleornis fraseriGrey-headed SunbirdGrey-headed SunbirdDeleornis axillarisPlain-backed SunbirdPlain-backed SunbirdAnthreptes reichenowiAnchieta's SunbirdAnchieta's SunbirdAnthreptes anchietae
Malachite Sunbird

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Steve Garvie. ↗

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