Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Scarlet-chested SunbirdScarlet-chested SunbirdScarlet-chested SunbirdScarlet-chested Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
at Nairobi National Park
720 Verified sightings at Nairobi National Park From 2019 to 2026
8,710 Verified sightings across all 50 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Scarlet-chested Sunbird

The scarlet-chested sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in many areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, and from South Sudan to South Africa. It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The scarlet-chested sunbird is similar to Hunter's sunbird in appearance, with adult males having a characteristic red–scarlet coloured breast and an iridescent green patch on top of its head. The female is dark brown with no supercilium. It inhabits woodland and gardens, at elevations of up to 2,400 metres (7,900 ft). The bird is around 13–15 centimetres (5.1–5.9 in) in length, with males having a weight of 7.5–17.2 grams (0.26–0.61 oz) and females weighing 6.8–15.3 grams (0.24–0.54 oz).

In 1760, the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson included a description of the... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Nairobi National Park

Amethyst Sunbird
LC

Amethyst Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Variable Sunbird
LC

Variable Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris venustus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Collared Sunbird
LC

Collared Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hedydipna collaris

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Bronze Sunbird
LC

Bronze Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nectarinia kilimensis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Northern Double-collared Sunbird
LC

Northern Double-collared Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris reichenowi

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

Beautiful Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris pulchellus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Mariqua Sunbird
LC

Mariqua Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris mariquensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Golden-winged Sunbird
LC

Golden-winged Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Drepanorhynchus reichenowi

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Long-tailed Fiscal
LC

Long-tailed Fiscal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lanius cabanisi

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Red-billed Oxpecker

Red-billed Oxpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buphagus erythrorhynchus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
2 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~40%
3 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
4 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
5 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~30%
6 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~30%
7 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
~30%
8 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
9 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~30%
10 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
11 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~30%
12 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
13 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
14 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
15 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~20%
16 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
17 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
18 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~20%
19 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
20 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
21 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
22 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
23 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
24 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
25 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
26 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
27 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
28 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
29 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
30 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
31 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
32 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
33 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
34 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~10%
35 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
36 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
37 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
38 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~10%
39 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
40 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
41 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
42 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
43 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
44 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
45 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
46 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
47 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
48 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
49 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
50 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Scarlet-chested Sunbird in Nairobi National Park?

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Scarlet-chested Sunbird sighting in Nairobi National Park, based on 720 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Scarlet-chested Sunbird in Nairobi National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Scarlet-chested Sunbird in Nairobi National Park in our monthly data.

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