Malachite Sunbird
Malachite SunbirdMalachite SunbirdMalachite SunbirdMalachite Sunbird

Malachite Sunbird

Nectarinia famosa

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Golden Gate Highlands National Park
53 Verified sightings at Golden Gate Highlands National Park From 2019 to 2026
3,567 Verified sightings across all 25 parks From 2019 to 2026
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Malachite Sunbird

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.

The malachite sunbird was formally described in 1766 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the twelfth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Certhia famosa. Linnaeus specified the type locality as the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. He based his account on "Le grimpereau à longue queue du Cap de Bonne Espérance" that had been described and illustrated in 1760 by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson. The specific epithet is from Latin famosus meaning "renowned" (from fama meaning "fame" or "repute").

The sunbirds are a group of small Old World passerine birds, and are placed within the family Nectariniidae, which is found across Africa, the Middle East and into South-east Asia. Also called green sugarbird. The malachite sunbird has two subspecies. The nominate N. f. famosa occurs mainly in South Africa, Lesotho and western Eswatini, although its range just extends into southern Namibia and Zimbabwe. N. f. cupreonitens... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Greater Double-collared Sunbird
LC

Greater Double-collared Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris afer

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Amethyst Sunbird
LC

Amethyst Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
White-breasted Sunbird
LC

White-breasted Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris talatala

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Mariqua Sunbird
LC

Mariqua Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris mariquensis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Dusky Sunbird
LC

Dusky Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris fuscus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Pied Starling
LC

Pied Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis bicolor

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Red-winged Starling
LC

Red-winged Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Onychognathus morio

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
African Stonechat
LC

African Stonechat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Saxicola torquatus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Cape Bunting
LC

Cape Bunting

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Emberiza capensis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Southern Fiscal
LC

Southern Fiscal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lanius collaris

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
White-necked Raven
LC

White-necked Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus albicollis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Cape White-eye
LC

Cape White-eye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zosterops virens

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Golden Gate Highlands National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
2 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
3 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
4 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
5 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~10%
6 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
7 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
8 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
9 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
10 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
11 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
12 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
13 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
14 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
15 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
16 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
17 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
Insufficient data
18 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
19 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
20 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
21 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
22 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
23 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
24 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
25 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Malachite Sunbird in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Malachite Sunbird sighting in Golden Gate Highlands National Park, based on 53 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Malachite Sunbird in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for Malachite Sunbird in Golden Gate Highlands National Park in our monthly data.

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