Olive Sunbird

The western subspecies are sometimes split as the Western Olive Sunbird, Nectarinia obscura, in which case Nectarinia olivacea becomes the Eastern Olive Sunbird

The Olive Sunbird is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

As sunbirds go, the Olive Sunbird is rather drab, sporting matt green plumage. But it is when the males get excited that they start to stand out. They have these little bushels of bright yellow feathers that they poke out of their shoulders in territorial disputes or when a predator - like the African Goshawk - is about. More

The Olive Sunbird (Nectarinia olivacea) is a species of sunbird found in a large part of Africa south of the Sahel. It prefers forested regions, and is absent from drier, more open regions such as the Horn of Africa and most of south-central and south-western Africa. It is sometimes placed in the genus Cyanomitra. More

For example, Olive Sunbird is an excellent name. Except for two rather restricted species, there are no other African sunbirds where both sexes are so uniform olive overall as this species (well, these species, if following the split of the Olive). Olive-bellied Sunbird is also an excellent name for Cinnyris jugularis (essentially no-one still uses Olive-bellied for Cyanomitra verticalis). More

For the purposes of our bird news services, Olive Sunbird is classed as Ungraded: species which are unlikely to appear as wild birds in Britain or Ireland hide section Most recent photos of Olive Sunbird (2) iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa01/08/2009 iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 01/08/2009 Brufut Bird Sanctuary, Western Division, Gambia Brufut Bird Sanctuary, Western Division, Gambia09/12/2007 Brufut Bird Sanctuary, Western Division, Gambia 09/12/2007 More

An Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea feeding on nectar. An Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea feeding on nectar. At about 1 500 hectares the gorge system is Durban’s largest remaining natural area and a unique remnant of what existed a brief 150 years before a tidal wave of settlement, suburbia and sugarcane engulfed the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Continuing residential development continues to whittle away at the natural area, with the greatest impact on grasslands on the gorge plateaus. More

Olive Sunbird, Sasol and Roberts VII refer to this bird as the species inhabiting the eastern Zimbabwe Highlands (west of the range of the "Eastern" Olive Sunbird). More