Amethyst Sunbird
Chalcomitra amethystina
About This Species
A vivid, iridescent sunbird of gardens, woodland edges and savanna across eastern and southern Africa, frequently seen probing tubular flowers such as aloes and coral trees for nectar while hovering briefly or clinging to the bloom. Males show a brilliant purple throat and green crown that flash in direct sunlight, while females are duller olive-brown. Most active and easiest to see around flowering plants in gardens and reserves during the morning, with peak activity when preferred flowers are in bloom.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- This species is generally tolerant of people in gardens and reserves, so a comfortable distance of a few metres while it feeds is usually sufficient without causing it to move off.
- General wildlife protection law applies across the East and southern African countries it inhabits, though specific provisions and enforcement vary, so avoid handling or deliberately disturbing birds at nests.
- Watching quietly near flowering shrubs rather than approaching a feeding bird directly gives the best views with least disturbance.
LCAvesPasseriformesNectariniidae
Seasonal Activity
172,654 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
Photo
(c) Ian White, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.