Shelley's Sunbird
Cinnyris shelleyi
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyNectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
- GenusCinnyris (Cinnyris Sunbirds)
- SpeciesCinnyris shelleyi (Shelley's Sunbird)
About the Shelley's Sunbird
Shelley's sunbird (Cinnyris shelleyi) is a species of bird in the sunbird family Nectariniidae. It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The species is named after George Ernest Shelley, an English ornithologist and nephew of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Shelley's sunbird was formally described in 1899 by the explorer and ornithologist Boyd Alexander under the current binomial name Cinnyris shelleyi based on a specimen collected near the Zambezi River, 60 mi (97 km) downstrean of the junction of the river with the Kafue River. The bird is named after the English ornithologist George Ernest Shelley who had written a book on the sunbirds.
Two subspecies are recognised: C. s. shelleyi Alexander, 1899 – southeast DR Congo to southeast Tanzania, east Zambia, Malawi, and north Mozambique C. s. hofmanni Reichenow, 1915 – east Tanzania The subspecies C. s. hofmanni has sometimes been considered as a separate species, Hofmann's sunbird. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Shelley's Sunbird in Kafue National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kafue National Park
White-breasted Sunbird
Cinnyris talatala
Purple-banded Sunbird
Cinnyris bifasciatus
Copper Sunbird
Cinnyris cupreus
Variable Sunbird
Cinnyris venustus
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Chalcomitra senegalensis
Collared Sunbird
Hedydipna collaris
Amethyst Sunbird
Chalcomitra amethystina
Western Violet-backed Sunbird
Anthreptes longuemarei
Green-throated Sunbird
Chalcomitra rubescens
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
Tropical Boubou
Laniarius major
Black-backed Puffback
Dryoscopus cubla
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikumi National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 2 | Kafue National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 3 | South Luangwa National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Shelley's Sunbird in Kafue National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Shelley's Sunbird sighting in Kafue National Park, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Shelley's Sunbird in Kafue National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Shelley's Sunbird in Kafue National Park in our monthly data.