Malachite Sunbird
Nectarinia famosa
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyNectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
- GenusNectarinia (African Long-tailed Sunbirds)
- SpeciesNectarinia famosa (Malachite Sunbird)
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 →
Recent sightings of Malachite Sunbird in Volcanoes National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Volcanoes National Park
Bronze Sunbird
Nectarinia kilimensis
Red-tufted Sunbird
Nectarinia johnstoni
Purple-breasted Sunbird
Nectarinia purpureiventris
Variable Sunbird
Cinnyris venustus
Regal Sunbird
Cinnyris regius
Stuhlmann's Sunbird
Cinnyris stuhlmanni
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Chalcomitra senegalensis
Northern Double-collared Sunbird
Cinnyris reichenowi
Green-headed Sunbird
Cyanomitra verticalis
Blue-headed Sunbird
Cyanomitra alinae
Red-chested Sunbird
Cinnyris erythrocercus
Olive-bellied Sunbird
Cinnyris chloropygius
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Malachite Sunbird in Volcanoes National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Malachite Sunbird sighting in Volcanoes National Park, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Malachite Sunbird in Volcanoes National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Malachite Sunbird in Volcanoes National Park in our monthly data.