The gorgeous sunbird is a small passerine bird in the sunbird family Nectariniidae that is found in southern Kenya and Tanzania. It was formerly placed in the Nectarinia genus, a genus of the Nectariniidae family but was later changed to the Cinnyrus genus. It was also formerly considered to be conspecific with the beautiful sunbird.
Region
East Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs from coastal and inland zones of southern Kenya into northern and eastern Tanzania. It uses a variety of habitats including coastal thickets, acacia savanna, forest edges, riverine woodland, and cultivated gardens where flowering plants are abundant. It often follows seasonal blooming, shifting locally to track nectar availability. In human-dominated landscapes it adapts well to ornamental hedges, bottlebrush, and aloes. Protected and semi-natural areas with diverse shrub layers are particularly favored.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The gorgeous sunbird is a small African nectar-feeder of the family Nectariniidae, found mainly in southern Kenya and Tanzania. Like many sunbirds, it was formerly placed in the genus Nectarinia but is now treated within Cinnyris. It has at times been considered conspecific with the beautiful sunbird, and males show striking iridescent colors that flash in bright light. It frequents flowering shrubs and trees and readily visits gardens with nectar-rich plants.
Temperament
active and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief hovering at flowers
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs, sometimes joining loose mixed flocks at blooming trees. Males defend nectar sources aggressively. The nest is a small pendant purse of plant fibers and spider webs with a side entrance, suspended from a twig. Breeding coincides with peak flowering and insect abundance.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
High, rapid twittering phrases interspersed with sharp chips. Males often sing from exposed perches near flowering shrubs, with song accelerating during territorial displays.
Plumage
Male shows glossy, iridescent plumage with metallic green to blue upperparts and a contrastingly colored breast band over yellow underparts; female is duller, olive-brown above with pale yellowish underparts and faint streaking. Feathers are sleek and reflective, with strong color shift in sunlight.
Diet
Primarily feeds on nectar from a wide range of native and ornamental flowers, probing blossoms with its decurved bill. Supplements its diet with small insects and spiders, especially during breeding to provide protein for chicks. Also takes sugary exudates and occasionally fruit juice from damaged fruit.
Preferred Environment
Forages in flowering shrubs, trees, and climbers at low to mid-levels, frequently visiting gardens and forest edges. Often feeds along hedgerows, acacia stands, and coastal thickets where blooms are concentrated.
