The little green sunbird, also called Seimund's sunbird, is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is sometimes placed in the genus Nectarinia. It is widespread throughout the African tropical rainforest.
Region
West and Central Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs widely across the African tropical rainforest belt, from West Africa through the Congo Basin and into parts of western East Africa. It favors lowland evergreen forest, gallery forest, and mature secondary growth. Often recorded along forest edges, clearings, and in agroforestry mosaics where flowering shrubs and trees are available. Readily visits gardens and plantations adjacent to forest, provided there is adequate canopy cover and nectar sources. Local movements may track flowering events.
Altitude Range
0–1700 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The little green sunbird, or Seimund's sunbird, is a tiny nectar specialist of African rainforests that often forages quietly in the shaded understory. It frequently joins mixed-species flocks and makes short, hovering visits to blossoms but also gleans insects from foliage. Its relatively short, straight bill is distinctive among sunbirds. The species adapts well to secondary growth and cocoa or coffee plantations with flowering trees.
Temperament
active and somewhat inconspicuous
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick, darting flights and brief hovering at blossoms
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or as part of small mixed-species foraging parties in the forest understory. Pairs maintain small feeding ranges centered on reliable flower patches. Nests are typically small, suspended, purse-like structures placed in shaded vegetation. Both parents contribute to feeding nestlings with a mix of nectar and small arthropods.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched tseep and tsee notes, often delivered in short series. Song is a rapid, tinkling twitter that can be easily overlooked against forest background noise.
Plumage
Compact sunbird with smooth, mostly uniform green-olive upperparts and duller, grayish-olive underparts; males show a cleaner metallic green gloss above while females are more olive-brown. Feathers lack strong streaking; overall appearance is plain and small. Bill is short and nearly straight for a sunbird. Wings and tail are darker with a slight green sheen.
Diet
Primarily takes nectar from small tubular or brush-like flowers, often visiting blossoms of understory shrubs and flowering trees. Supplements its diet with small insects and spiders, especially during breeding to provide protein for chicks. Will occasionally take soft fruits or sip from fallen flowers. Foraging involves gleaning from leaves and short hover-feeding bouts.
Preferred Environment
Feeds mostly in the shaded understory and midstory of lowland rainforest and mature secondary growth. Frequently works forest edges, gaps, and flowering trees in agroforestry systems such as cocoa and coffee. Also visits gardens near intact forest when nectar sources are abundant.
