Western Violet-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes longuemarei)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Western Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes longuemarei (Lesson, RP, 1831)

11 gWeight

The western violet-backed sunbird or Longuemare's sunbird (Anthreptes longuemarei) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae.

Most records: Ghana, Gambia, Zambia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Most records: Ghana, Gambia, Zambia

Western Violet-backed Sunbird has been recorded at 87 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 15 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Mole NP – Mole Hotel & waterholeGhana65 records
  2. Mole NPGhana62 records
  3. Mutinondo WildernessZambia59 records
More places
  1. Dzalanyama Forest ReserveMalawi58 records
  2. Ngaoundaba RanchCameroon43 records
  3. Campement de WassadouSenegal38 records
  4. Mole NP – Samole Loop & waterholeGhana36 records
  5. Dzalanyama Forest Lodge areaMalawi35 records
  6. Brufut WoodsGambia35 records
  7. Benoue NPCameroon30 records

Countries and regions with the most records

GhanaGambiaZambiaMalawiCameroonSenegalTanzaniaUganda

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 western violet-backed sunbird or Longuemare's sunbird (Anthreptes longuemarei) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is the most widely ranging species in the violet-backed sunbird superspecies, ranging throughout a large part of tropical mainland sub-Saharan Africa not inhabited by other members of the superspecies. It is mainly found in regions with mesic woodland.

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

Questions

How big is the Western Violet-backed Sunbird?

The Western Violet-backed Sunbird weighs around 11 g.

Where does the Western Violet-backed Sunbird live?

Its breeding range: Africa: western, central, eastern, south-central. It is most often recorded in Ghana, Gambia and Zambia.

Is the Western Violet-backed Sunbird endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Western Violet-backed Sunbird as Least Concern.

What does the Western Violet-backed Sunbird eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Western Violet-backed Sunbird in?

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

At a glance

Weight
11 g
Habitat
Woodland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
71 mm
Tail
49 mm
Bill
18 mm
Tarsus
17 mm

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

Range

Africa: western, central, eastern, south-central

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Sunbirds Nectariniidae
Genus
Anthreptes

Other birds in the genus Anthreptes

Plain-backed SunbirdPlain-backed SunbirdAnthreptes reichenowiAnchieta's SunbirdAnchieta's SunbirdAnthreptes anchietaePlain SunbirdPlain SunbirdAnthreptes simplexBrown-throated SunbirdBrown-throated SunbirdAnthreptes malacensisGrey-throated SunbirdGrey-throated SunbirdAnthreptes griseigularisRed-throated SunbirdRed-throated SunbirdAnthreptes rhodolaemusMangrove SunbirdMangrove SunbirdAnthreptes gabonicusEastern Violet-backed SunbirdEastern Violet-backed SunbirdAnthreptes orientalisUluguru Violet-backed SunbirdUluguru Violet-backed SunbirdAnthreptes neglectusViolet-tailed SunbirdViolet-tailed SunbirdAnthreptes aurantiusLittle Green SunbirdLittle Green SunbirdAnthreptes seimundiYellow-chinned SunbirdYellow-chinned SunbirdAnthreptes rectirostris
Western Violet-backed Sunbird

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

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