White-bellied Sunbird

Afrikaans name: Witpenssuikerbekkie

A White-bellied Sunbird feeding on an aloe

Photo © Steven Herbert

Cinnyris talatala

The White-bellied Sunbird is a common species across much of the east of South Africa. North of South Africa its range extends to Tanzania.

The male is a beautiful metallic green on top and the chest with white underparts. The female is a drab two-tone brown.

The White-bellied Sunbird feeds on nectar from a wide variety of plants and it also eats insects such as moths, ants and aphids. It will also eat spiders.

Their nest hangs from a twig and is a rough looking structure made of grass and leaves. They use spider web to bind it together. Up to 3 eggs are laid and it is the females job to incubate them.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	763	Eucinnyris talatala talatala
2nd	763	Cinnyris talatala
3rd	763	Cinnyris talatala
4th	763	Cinnyris talatala
5th	787	Nectarinia talatala
6th	787	Nectarinia talatala
7th	827	Cinnyris talatala

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	763	White-breasted Sunbird
2nd	763	White-breasted Sunbird
3rd	763	White-bellied Sunbird
4th	763	White-bellied Sunbird
5th	787	Whitebellied Sunbird
6th	787	Whitebellied Sunbird
7th	827	White-bellied Sunbird

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	763	Witbors-suikerbekkie
2nd	763	Witbors-suikerbekkie
3rd	763	Witbors-suikerbekkie
4th	763	Witbors-suikerbekkie
5th	787	Witpenssuikerbekkie
6th	787	Witpenssuikerbekkie
7th	827	Witpenssuikerbekkie

References and further reading

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 63

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 59

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 164

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 93

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 324

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 694

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 412

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 376

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 695

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 532

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 542

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 312

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 412

Newman s Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 106

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 394

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 394

More Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 30

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 296

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 104

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 198

Geoff Lockwood s Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 127

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 126

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 246

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 71

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 202

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 67

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 106

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 110

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 263

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 628

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 37

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 37

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 286

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds