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Birdwatching in Africa - Variable Sunbird, Yellow-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris venustus



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.

Range map from www.oiseaux.net

Range map
Range map from www.oiseaux.net - Ornithological Portal Oiseaux.net
www.oiseaux.net is one of those MUST visit pages if you're in to bird watching. You can find just about everything there

The Variable Sunbird is a fairly common resident breeder in equatorial Africa. Two eggs are laid in a suspended nest in a tree. This species is found in open woodland and cultivation.

Variable sunbirds are small, only 10 cm long. They have medium-length thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations to their nectar feeding.

Length: 10 cm
Wingspan:
Weight: 5-10 g
Longevity:
Distinctive Feature
Similar Species


From opus at www.birdforum.net the forum for wild birds and birding.


The adult male has a glossy green head, throat and nape, and a maroon breast band. In most subspecies, the belly of the male is yellow, but in a few it is orange or white. The female has grey-brown upperparts and yellowish underparts, and an obvious pale supercilium.


Female VS Male

Variable Sunbird, Yellow-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
Female

Variable Sunbird, Yellow-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
Male




The eclipse male is like the female, but shows some green, especially on the throat. The call is a clear tew-tew-tew-tew-tew .

Listen to the Variable Sunbird

Listen to the Variable Sunbird


www.xeno-canto.org


External Links
(Yellow-bellied = ) Variable sunbird - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds

Conservation status
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)



From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

www.birdforum.net


Sighted: (Date of first photo that I could use) 20 October 2019
Location: Chelekleka Lake, Bebre Zeit, Ethiopia

Variable Sunbird, Yellow-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
Male Variable Sunbird or Yellow-bellied Sunbird
20 October 2019 - Chelekleka Lake, Bebre Zeit, Ethiopia

Variable Sunbird, Yellow-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
Male Variable Sunbird or Yellow-bellied Sunbird
20 October 2019 - Chelekleka Lake, Bebre Zeit, Ethiopia

Variable Sunbird, Yellow-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
Female Variable Sunbird or Yellow-bellied Sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
20 October 2019 - Chelekleka Lake, Bebre Zeit, Ethiopia

Variable Sunbird, Yellow-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
Male Variable Sunbird or Yellow-bellied Sunbird
20 October 2019 - Chelekleka Lake, Bebre Zeit, Ethiopia

Variable Sunbird, Yellow-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
Male Variable Sunbird or Yellow-bellied Sunbird
20 October 2019 - Chelekleka Lake, Bebre Zeit, Ethiopia

Variable Sunbird, Yellow-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
Male Variable Sunbird or Yellow-bellied Sunbird
28 October 2019 - 10000 Flamingo Lodge, Ethiopia



PLEASE! If I have made any mistakes identifying any bird, PLEASE let me know on my guestbook



       
                  



                                       

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