Least Concern Birds

White-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris talatala

White-bellied Sunbird feeds on nectar in African savannas and gardens.

Scientific name	Cinnyris talatala
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Nectariniidae
Size	Male: approximately 7-9 grams; female: slightly lighter, about 6-8 grams

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How to identify

Male with distinctly white belly; back and head with metallic green sheen; slender, downward-curved bill; female duller in color with grayish-white belly; wings short and rounded.

Habitat

Open woodland savanna, shrubland, open forests, and garden areas

Diet

Primarily feeds on flower nectar, supplemented by insects and spiders for protein

When it is active

Diurnal, active during the day, especially frequent feeding in early morning and late afternoon

Where it lives

Mainly distributed in southern Africa including Botswana, Zimbabwe, northern South Africa, and Mozambique; less common in parts of Kenya, uncommon in Maasai Mara region

How to spot it

Observe at dawn or dusk in flower-rich shrubbery or gardens; watch for rapid flight and feeding movements

Photography tips

Use a telephoto lens to capture moments of nectar feeding; choose well-lit times to highlight the metallic sheen of the plumage

Threats

Habitat loss and fragmentation, especially due to agricultural expansion and urbanization

Similar species

Similar to other Cinnyris sunbirds such as the Purple-breasted Sunbird (Cinnyris afer); distinguished by the clearly white belly and slightly smaller size

📖 how to spot the white bellied sunbird on safari