Malachite Sunbird

Nectarinia famosa

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyNectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
GenusNectarinia (African Long-tailed Sunbirds)
SpeciesNectarinia famosa (Malachite Sunbird)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Ruaha National Park

2 Verified sightings at Ruaha National Park From 2019 to 2026

3,567 Verified sightings across all 25 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Ruaha National Park

Cinnyris pulchellus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Anthreptes orientalis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Cinnyris venustus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Anthreptes longuemarei

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Cinnyris mariquensis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Hedydipna collaris

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Chalcomitra amethystina

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Cinnyris bifasciatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Cinnyris cupreus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Lamprotornis unicolor

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Dicrurus adsimilis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

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

← Back to Ruaha National Park

Malachite Sunbird

About the Malachite Sunbird

Recent sightings of Malachite Sunbird in Ruaha National Park

Closest Relatives at Ruaha National Park

Beautiful Sunbird

Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird

Variable Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Western Violet-backed Sunbird

Mariqua Sunbird

Collared Sunbird

Amethyst Sunbird

Purple-banded Sunbird

Copper Sunbird

Ashy Starling

Fork-tailed Drongo

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found