Hunter's sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Region
East Africa and the Horn of Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs from Somalia and eastern Ethiopia south through Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, and into northern Tanzania. It favors arid to semi-arid thornbush, Acacia-Commiphora scrub, dry savanna, and woodland edges, and readily visits flowering gardens and plantations. The species tracks flowering events locally and may concentrate where nectar is abundant. It avoids dense forest but uses riparian thickets and bushy slopes. Often found near flowering aloes, Leonotis, and acacias.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Hunter's sunbird is an East African sunbird adapted to dry bush and savanna, often following seasonal blooms of acacias, aloes, and other nectar-rich plants. Males show striking iridescence and a vivid red chest patch, while females are much duller and well-camouflaged. They hover to feed like hummingbirds but also perch frequently while nectaring. Nests are neat, pendant pouches woven from plant fibers and spider silk.
Illustration by Keulemans (1889)
Temperament
active and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with frequent hovering at flowers
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, with males defending nectar sources vigorously. Forms loose associations where flowers are abundant and may accompany mixed-species flocks in bushland. The nest is a pendant, oval pouch suspended from a twig, constructed from grasses and plant fibers bound with spider webs. Both parents attend the young, with increased insect provisioning during chick-rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a rapid series of high-pitched twitters and tinkling notes, delivered from exposed perches. Calls include sharp tsip and chittering contact notes, becoming more insistent near feeding territories.
Plumage
Male is predominantly glossy black with strong iridescence and a vivid scarlet to crimson chest panel; metallic green to bluish sheen on head and throat. Female is olive-brown above with dull yellowish to grayish underparts and faint streaking, lacking the male’s bright panel. Both sexes have a long, decurved bill and relatively short wings. Tail is medium-length and dark.
Diet
Primarily nectar from flowers such as aloes, acacias, Leonotis, and other tubular blossoms. Also takes small insects and spiders, especially when feeding nestlings. Forages by probing blossoms with the decurved bill and by gleaning or hawking tiny arthropods. Will visit gardens and flowering shrubs around settlements.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dry scrub, thornbush, savanna edges, and along riparian thickets where flowering plants are available. Often forages in mid-level shrubs and small trees and will hover briefly to access deep corollas. Readily uses human-modified habitats with suitable flowering plants.
