The south Moluccan sunbird was formally described in 1827 by the French naturalist René Lesson based on a specimen collected on Ambon Island.

He coined the binomial name Cinnyris clementiae, choosing the specific epithet to honour his second wife, the artist and illustrator, Clémence Dumont.

This species is distinguished from the other members of the olive-backed sunbird complex by the male having black rather than yellow underparts.

[3] It is found in various habitats including mangroves, forest edge, open scrub as well as parks and gardens.

It is constructed by the female using grass, bark, moss, lichens, leaf fragments, vegetable fibres and spider webs.