Sunbird

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For other uses, see Sunbird (disambiguation).

iSunbirds and Spiderhunters

Purple-rumped Sunbird

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Nectariniidae Vigors, 1825

Genera

Many: see text

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Although they are completely unrelated, the sunbirds find counterparts in the hummingbirds of the Americas and the honeyeaters of Australia. The resemblances are due to convergent evolution due to the similar nectar-feeding lifestyle.

The sunbirds are tropical species, with representatives from Africa to Australasia; however, the greatest variety of species is in Africa where the group probably arose. Most species are sedentary or short-distance seasonal migrants.

Like the hummingbirds, they are strongly sexually dimorphic, with the males usually brilliantly plumaged in metallic colours. Sunbirds have long thin down-curved bills and brush tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations to their nectar feeding. Up to three eggs are laid in a purse-shaped suspended nest.

Family: Nectariniidae
- Genus Chalcoparia (sometimes included in Anthreptes)
  - Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Chalcoparia singalensis LC
- Genus Deleornis (sometimes included in Anthreptes)
  - Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, Deleornis fraseri LC
  - Grey-headed Sunbird, Deleornis axillaris (sometimes considered subspecies of D. fraseri) LC
- Genus Anthreptes
  - Plain-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes reichenowi NT
  - Anchieta's Sunbird, Anthreptes anchietae LC
  - Plain Sunbird, Anthreptes simplex LC
  - Plain-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes malacensis LC
  - Red-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes rhodolaemus NT
  - Mouse-brown Sunbird, Anthreptes gabonicus LC
  - Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes longuemarei LC
  - Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes orientalis LC
  - Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes neglectus LC
  - Violet-tailed Sunbird, Anthreptes aurantium LC
  - Little Green Sunbird, Anthreptes seimundi (sometimes included in Nectarinia) LC
  - Green Sunbird, Anthreptes rectirostris LC
  - Banded Sunbird, Anthreptes rubritorques VU
- Genus Hedydipna (sometimes included in Anthreptes)
  - Collared Sunbird, Hedydipna collaris LC
  - Pygmy Sunbird, Hedydipna platura LC
  - Nile Valley Sunbird, Hedydipna metallica LC
  - Amani Sunbird, Hedydipna pallidigaster EN
- Genus Hypogramma
  - Purple-naped Sunbird, Hypogramma hypogrammicum LC
- Genus Anabathmis (sometimes included in Nectarinia)
  - Reichenbach's Sunbird, Anabathmis reichenbachii LC
  - Principe Sunbird, Anabathmis hartlaubii LC
  - Newton's Sunbird, Anabathmis newtonii LC
- Genus Dreptes (sometimes included in Nectarinia)
  - Sao Tome Sunbird, Dreptes thomensis VU
- Genus Anthobaphes (sometimes included in Nectarinia)
  - Orange-breasted Sunbird, Anthobaphes violacea LC
- Genus Cyanomitra (sometimes included in Nectarinia)
  - Green-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis LC
  - Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Cyanomitra cyanolaema LC
  - Blue-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra alinae LC
  - Cameroon Sunbird, Cyanomitra oritis LC
  - Bannerman's Sunbird, Cyanomitra bannermani LC
  - Eastern Olive Sunbird, Cyanomitra olivacea LC
  - Western Olive Sunbird, Cyanomitra obscura LC
  - Mouse-colored Sunbird, Cyanomitra veroxii LC
- Genus Chalcomitra (sometimes included in Nectarinia)
  - Buff-throated Sunbird, Chalcomitra adelberti LC
  - Carmelite Sunbird, Chalcomitra fuliginosa LC
  - Green-throated Sunbird, Chalcomitra rubescens LC
  - Amethyst Sunbird, Chalcomitra amethystina LC
  - Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Chalcomitra senegalensis LC
  - Hunter's Sunbird, Chalcomitra hunteri LC
  - Socotra Sunbird, Chalcomitra balfouri LC
- Genus Leptocoma (sometimes included in Nectarinia)
  - Purple-rumped Sunbird, Leptocoma zeylonica LC
  - Crimson-backed Sunbird, Leptocoma minima LC
  - Copper-throated Sunbird, Leptocoma calcostetha LC
  - Purple-throated Sunbird, Leptocoma sperata LC
  - Black Sunbird, Leptocoma sericea (formerly Nectarinia aspasia) LC
- Genus Nectarinia
  - Bocage's Sunbird, Nectarinia bocagii LC
  - Purple-breasted Sunbird, Nectarinia purpureiventris LC
  - Tacazze Sunbird, Nectarinia tacazze LC
  - Bronze Sunbird, Nectarinia kilimensis LC
  - Golden-winged Sunbird, Nectarinia reichenowi LC
  - Red-tufted Sunbird, Nectarinia johnstoni LC
  - Malachite Sunbird, Nectarinia famosa LC
- Genus Cinnyris (sometimes included in Nectarinia)
  - Olive-bellied Sunbird, Cinnyris chloropygius LC
  - Tiny Sunbird, Cinnyris minullus LC
  - Miombo Sunbird, Cinnyris manoensis LC
  - Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris chalybeus LC
  - Neergaard's Sunbird, Cinnyris neergaardi NT
  - Stuhlmann's Sunbird, Cinnyris stuhlmanni (sometimes considered subspecies of C. afer) NT
  - Prigogine's Sunbird, Cinnyris prigoginei (sometimes considered subspecies of C. afer) NT
  - Montane Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris ludovicensis LC
  - Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris preussi LC
  - Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris afer LC
  - Regal Sunbird, Cinnyris regius LC
  - Rockefeller's Sunbird, Cinnyris rockefelleri VU
  - Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris mediocris LC
  - Moreau's Sunbird, Cinnyris moreaui NT
  - Beautiful Sunbird, Cinnyris pulchellus LC
  - Loveridge's Sunbird, Cinnyris loveridgei LC
  - Mariqua Sunbird, Cinnyris mariquensis LC
  - Shelley's Sunbird, Cinnyris shelleyi LC
  - Congo Sunbird, Cinnyris congensis LC
  - Red-chested Sunbird, Cinnyris erythrocerca LC
  - Black-bellied Sunbird, Cinnyris nectarinioides LC
  - Purple-banded Sunbird, Cinnyris bifasciatus LC
  - Tsavo Sunbird, Cinnyris tsavoensis (sometimes considered subspecies of C. bifasciatus) LC
  - Violet-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris chalcomelas LC
  - Pemba Sunbird, Cinnyris pembae LC
  - Orange-tufted Sunbird, Cinnyris bouvieri LC
  - Palestine Sunbird, Cinnyris oseus LC
  - Shining Sunbird, Cinnyris habessinicus LC
  - Splendid Sunbird, Cinnyris coccinigaster LC
  - Johanna's Sunbird, Cinnyris johannae LC
  - Superb Sunbird, Cinnyris superbus LC
  - Rufous-winged Sunbird, Cinnyris rufipennis VU
  - Oustalet's Sunbird, Cinnyris oustaleti LC
  - White-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris talatala LC
  - Variable Sunbird, Cinnyris venustus LC
  - Dusky Sunbird, Cinnyris fuscus LC
  - Ursula's Sunbird, Cinnyris ursulae NT
  - Bates' Sunbird, Cinnyris batesi LC
  - Copper Sunbird, Cinnyris cupreus LC
  - Purple Sunbird, Cinnyris asiaticus LC
  - Olive-backed Sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis LC
  - Apricot-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris buettikoferi LC
  - Flame-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris solaris LC
  - Souimanga Sunbird, Cinnyris sovimanga LC
  - Seychelles Sunbird, Cinnyris dussumieri LC
  - Madagascar Sunbird, Cinnyris notatus LC
  - Humblot's Sunbird, Cinnyris humbloti LC
  - Anjouan Sunbird, Cinnyris comorensis LC
  - Mayotte Sunbird, Cinnyris coquerellii LC
  - Long-billed Sunbird, Cinnyris lotenius LC
- Genus Aethopyga
  - Gray-hooded Sunbird, Aethopyga primigenia NT
  - Mount Apo Sunbird, Aethopyga boltoni NT
  - Lina's Sunbird, Aethopyga linaraborae NT
  - Flaming Sunbird, Aethopyga flagrans LC
  - Metallic-winged Sunbird, Aethopyga pulcherrima LC
  - Elegant Sunbird, Aethopyga duyvenbodei EN
  - Lovely Sunbird, Aethopyga shelleyi LC
  - Handsome Sunbird, Aethopyga belli LC
  - Gould's Sunbird, Aethopyga gouldiae LC
  - White-flanked Sunbird, Aethopyga eximia LC
  - Green-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga nipalensis LC
  - Fork-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga christinae LC
  - Black-throated Sunbird, Aethopyga saturata LC
  - Western Crimson Sunbird, Aethopyga vigorsii (sometimes considered subspecies of A. siparaja) LC
  - Crimson Sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja LC
  - Scarlet Sunbird, Aethopyga mystacalis LC
  - Temminck's Sunbird, Aethopyga temminckii (sometimes considered subspecies of A. mystacalis) LC
  - Fire-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga ignicauda LC
- Genus Arachnothera - spiderhunters
  - Thick-billed Spiderhunter, Arachnothera crassirostris LC
  - Spectacled Spiderhunter, Arachnothera flavigaster LC
  - Long-billed Spiderhunter, Arachnothera robusta LC
  - Little Spiderhunter, Arachnothera longirostra LC
  - Yellow-eared Spiderhunter, Arachnothera chrysogenys LC
  - Naked-faced Spiderhunter, Arachnothera clarae LC
  - Gray-breasted Spiderhunter, Arachnothera modesta (sometimes considered subspecies of A. affinis) LC
  - Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter, Arachnothera affinis LC
  - Bornean Spiderhunter, Arachnothera everetti LC
  - Streaked Spiderhunter, Arachnothera magna LC
  - Whitehead's Spiderhunter, Arachnothera juliae LC