Black-throated Sunbird vs Green-tailed Sunbird

In short

The Black-throated Sunbird and Green-tailed Sunbird are both small, colorful sunbirds, but they can be distinguished by their tail and throat coloration. The Black-throated Sunbird has a distinctive black throat, while the Green-tailed Sunbird features a green tail and lacks the black throat patch.

Identification tips

1. Look for the black throat on the Black-throated Sunbird. 2. Check for the green tail on the Green-tailed Sunbird. 3. Observe the overall plumage: Black-throated is darker, while Green-tailed is more vibrant. 4. Note that both species can be found in similar habitats, so focus on visual cues.

Size

Both species are similar in size, typical of small sunbirds.

Plumage

The Black-throated Sunbird has a prominent black throat and a more uniform dark plumage, whereas the Green-tailed Sunbird is characterized by its green tail and lacks the black throat, often showing more vibrant colors on the body.

Behaviour

Both species exhibit typical sunbird behavior, such as hovering at flowers and quick, darting movements.

Habitat

Both species can be found in similar habitats, such as forests and edges, often overlapping in range.

Voice

Vocalizations are not distinctively different enough to reliably separate the two species in the field.