White-bellied Sunbird

The White-bellied Sunbird is a small, common sunbird of southern African woodlands, easily recognized by the crisp white underparts that contrast with its glittering green head and back. It ranges from Angola and Zambia south through Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, and much of South Africa.

Appearance

Males show an iridescent metallic green head, throat, and mantle, a narrow dark (often blackish or maroon-tinged) breast band, and a clean white belly. Females are plain grey-brown above with pale grey to whitish underparts, lacking iridescence but often showing a hint of the same overall pattern.

Key field marks

• Small sunbird with iridescent green upperparts and throat
• Narrow dark breast band separating the green throat from a bright white belly
• Female: grey-brown above, whitish or pale grey below, unmarked
• Found in pairs or small groups in broadleaved woodland

Similar species

The combination of a green head, dark narrow breast band, and clean white belly is distinctive among southern African sunbirds; the similarly sized Marico Sunbird instead shows a broad maroon breast band and a black (not white) belly. Female White-bellied Sunbirds can resemble other female sunbirds but their pale, unmarked underside and typical woodland habitat help with identification.

Habitat

This species favors broadleaved (miombo-type) woodland, savanna, thornveld, and gardens with flowering trees and shrubs.

Range

It occurs across much of southern Africa, including Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.

Migration

Generally resident, with some local movement in response to the flowering season of key nectar sources such as aloes and flowering trees.

Behavior

Active and often conspicuous, White-bellied Sunbirds forage at flowering trees and shrubs, frequently in pairs, and defend productive food sources against other nectar-feeding birds.

Voice

The song is a bright, rapid warbling series of notes; calls include sharp "chip" or "tsip" notes given in flight or while perched.

Feeding

Nectar is the primary food, supplemented by small insects and spiders gleaned from leaves and bark or caught in brief aerial sallies.

Nesting

The nest is a small, oval, hanging pouch built from grass, plant fibers, and spider web with a side entrance, usually suspended from a thin twig in a shrub or low tree. The female typically builds the nest and incubates the one to two eggs.