SUNBIRD

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.
The sunbirds find counterparts in two very distantly related groups: the hummingbirds of the Americas and the honeyeaters of Australia. The resemblances are due to convergent evolution due to the similar nectar-feeding lifestyle. Most sunbird species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.
The sunbirds are tropical species, with representatives from Africa to Australasia; 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.

Contents

Systematics

External links

Systematics

'FAMILY NECTARINIIDAE'

★ 'Genus ''Chalcoparia''' (sometimes included in ''Anthreptes'')

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★ Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, ''Chalcoparia singalensis''

★ 'Genus ''Deleornis''' (sometimes included in ''Anthreptes'')

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★ Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, ''Deleornis fraseri''

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★ Grey-headed Sunbird, ''Deleornis axillaris'' - sometimes included in ''D. fraseri''

★ 'Genus ''Anthreptes'''

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★ Plain-backed Sunbird, ''Anthreptes reichenowi''

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★ Anchieta's Sunbird, ''Anthreptes anchietae''

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★ Plain Sunbird, ''Anthreptes simplex''

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★ Plain-throated Sunbird, ''Anthreptes malacensis''

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★ Red-throated Sunbird, ''Anthreptes rhodolaemus''

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★ Mouse-brown Sunbird, ''Anthreptes gabonicus''

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★ Western Violet-backed Sunbird, ''Anthreptes longuemarei''

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★ Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird, ''Anthreptes orientalis''

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★ Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird, ''Anthreptes neglectus''

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★ Violet-tailed Sunbird, ''Anthreptes aurantium''

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★ Little Green Sunbird, ''Anthreptes seimundi'' - sometimes placed in ''Nectarinia''

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★ Green Sunbird, ''Anthreptes rectirostris''

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★ Banded Sunbird, ''Anthreptes rubritorques''

★ 'Genus ''Hedydipna''' (sometimes included in ''Anthreptes'')

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★ Collared Sunbird, ''Hedydipna collaris''

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★ Pygmy Sunbird, ''Hedydipna platura''

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★ Nile Valley Sunbird, ''Hedydipna metallica''

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★ Amani Sunbird, ''Hedydipna pallidigaster''

★ 'Genus ''Hypogramma'''

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★ Purple-naped Sunbird, ''Hypogramma hypogrammicum''

★ 'Genus ''Anabathmis''' (sometimes included in ''Nectarinia'')

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★ Reichenbach's Sunbird, ''Anabathmis reichenbachii''

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★ Principe Sunbird, ''Anabathmis hartlaubii''

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★ Newton's Sunbird, ''Anabathmis newtonii''

★ 'Genus ''Dreptes''' (sometimes included in ''Nectarinia'')

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★ Sao Tome Sunbird, ''Dreptes thomensis''

★ 'Genus ''Anthobaphes''' - Orange-breasted Sunbird (sometimes included in ''Nectarinia'')

★ 'Genus ''Cyanomitra''' (sometimes included in ''Nectarinia'')

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★ Green-headed Sunbird, ''Cyanomitra verticalis''

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★ Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, ''Cyanomitra cyanolaema''

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★ Blue-headed Sunbird, ''Cyanomitra alinae''

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★ Cameroon Sunbird, ''Cyanomitra oritis''

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★ Bannerman's Sunbird, ''Cyanomitra bannermani''

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★ Eastern Olive Sunbird, ''Cyanomitra olivacea''

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★ Western Olive Sunbird, ''Cyanomitra obscura''

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★ Mouse-coloured Sunbird, ''Cyanomitra veroxii''

★ 'Genus ''Chalcomitra''' (sometimes included in ''Nectarinia'')

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★ Buff-throated Sunbird, ''Chalcomitra adelberti''

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★ Carmelite Sunbird, ''Chalcomitra fuliginosa''

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★ Green-throated Sunbird, ''Chalcomitra rubescens''

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★ Amethyst Sunbird, ''Chalcomitra amethystina''

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★ Scarlet-chested Sunbird, ''Chalcomitra senegalensis''

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★ Hunter's Sunbird, ''Chalcomitra hunteri''

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★ Socotra Sunbird, ''Chalcomitra balfouri''

★ 'Genus ''Leptocoma''' (sometimes included in ''Nectarinia'')

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★ Purple-rumped Sunbird, ''Leptocoma zeylonica''

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★ Crimson-backed Sunbird, ''Leptocoma minima''

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★ Copper-throated Sunbird, ''Leptocoma calcostetha''

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★ Purple-throated Sunbird, ''Leptocoma sperata''

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★ Black Sunbird, ''Leptocoma sericea'' - formerly ''Nectarinia aspasia''

★ 'Genus ''Nectarinia'''

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★ Bocage's Sunbird, ''Nectarinia bocagii''

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★ Purple-breasted Sunbird, ''Nectarinia purpureiventris''

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★ Tacazze Sunbird, ''Nectarinia tacazze''

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★ Bronze Sunbird, ''Nectarinia kilimensis''

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★ Golden-winged Sunbird, ''Nectarinia reichenowi''

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★ Red-tufted Sunbird, ''Nectarinia johnstoni''

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★ Malachite Sunbird, ''Nectarinia famosa''

★ 'Genus ''Cinnyris''' (sometimes included in ''Nectarinia'')

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★ Olive-bellied Sunbird, ''Cinnyris chloropygius''

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★ Tiny Sunbird, ''Cinnyris minullus''

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★ Miombo Sunbird, ''Cinnyris manoensis''

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★ Southern Double-collared Sunbird, ''Cinnyris chalybeus''

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★ Neergaard's Sunbird, ''Cinnyris neergaardi''

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★ Stuhlmann's Sunbird, ''Cinnyris stuhlmanni'' - sometimes included in ''C. afer''

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★ Prigogine's Sunbird, ''Cinnyris prigoginei'' - sometimes included in ''C. afer''

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★ Montane Double-collared Sunbird, ''Cinnyris ludovicensis''

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★ Northern Double-collared Sunbird, ''Cinnyris preussi''

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★ Greater Double-collared Sunbird, ''Cinnyris afer''

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★ Regal Sunbird, ''Cinnyris regius''

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★ Rockefeller's Sunbird, ''Cinnyris rockefelleri''

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★ Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, ''Cinnyris mediocris''

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★ Moreau's Sunbird, ''Cinnyris moreaui''

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★ Beautiful Sunbird, ''Cinnyris pulchellus''

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★ Loveridge's Sunbird, ''Cinnyris loveridgei''

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★ Mariqua Sunbird, ''Cinnyris mariquensis''

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★ Shelley's Sunbird, ''Cinnyris shelleyi''

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★ Congo Sunbird, ''Cinnyris congensis''

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★ Red-chested Sunbird, ''Cinnyris erythrocerca''

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★ Black-bellied Sunbird, ''Cinnyris nectarinioides''

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★ Purple-banded Sunbird, ''Cinnyris bifasciatus''

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★ Tsavo Sunbird, ''Cinnyris tsavoensis'' - sometimes included in ''C. bifasciatus''

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★ Violet-breasted Sunbird, ''Cinnyris chalcomelas''

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★ Pemba Sunbird, ''Cinnyris pembae''

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★ Orange-tufted Sunbird, ''Cinnyris bouvieri''

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★ Palestine Sunbird, ''Cinnyris oseus''

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★ Shining Sunbird, ''Cinnyris habessinicus''

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★ Splendid Sunbird, ''Cinnyris coccinigaster''

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★ Johanna's Sunbird, ''Cinnyris johannae''

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★ Superb Sunbird, ''Cinnyris superbus''

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★ Rufous-winged Sunbird, ''Cinnyris rufipennis''

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★ Oustalet's Sunbird, ''Cinnyris oustaleti''

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★ White-breasted Sunbird, ''Cinnyris talatala''

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★ Variable Sunbird, ''Cinnyris venustus''

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★ Dusky Sunbird, ''Cinnyris fuscus''

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★ Ursula's Sunbird, ''Cinnyris ursulae''

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★ Bates' Sunbird, ''Cinnyris batesi''

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★ Copper Sunbird, ''Cinnyris cupreus''

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★ Purple Sunbird, ''Cinnyris asiaticus''

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★ Olive-backed Sunbird, ''Cinnyris jugularis''

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★ Apricot-breasted Sunbird, ''Cinnyris buettikoferi''

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★ Flame-breasted Sunbird, ''Cinnyris solaris''

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★ Souimanga Sunbird, ''Cinnyris sovimanga''

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★ Seychelles Sunbird, ''Cinnyris dussumieri''

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★ Madagascar Sunbird, ''Cinnyris notatus''

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★ Humblot's Sunbird, ''Cinnyris humbloti''

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★ Anjouan Sunbird, ''Cinnyris comorensis''

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★ Mayotte Sunbird, ''Cinnyris coquerellii''

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★ Long-billed Sunbird, ''Cinnyris lotenius''

★ 'Genus ''Aethopyga'''

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★ Gray-hooded Sunbird, ''Aethopyga primigenia''

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★ Mount Apo Sunbird, ''Aethopyga boltoni''

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★ Lina's Sunbird, ''Aethopyga linaraborae''

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★ Flaming Sunbird, ''Aethopyga flagrans''

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★ Metallic-winged Sunbird, ''Aethopyga pulcherrima''

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★ Elegant Sunbird, ''Aethopyga duyvenbodei''

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★ Lovely Sunbird, ''Aethopyga shelleyi''

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★ Handsome Sunbird, ''Aethopyga belli''

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★ Gould's Sunbird, ''Aethopyga gouldiae''

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★ White-flanked Sunbird, ''Aethopyga eximia''

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★ Green-tailed Sunbird, ''Aethopyga nipalensis''

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★ Fork-tailed Sunbird, ''Aethopyga christinae''

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★ Black-throated Sunbird, ''Aethopyga saturata''

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★ Western Crimson Sunbird, ''Aethopyga vigorsii'' - sometimes included in ''A. siparaja''

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★ Crimson Sunbird, ''Aethopyga siparaja''

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★ Scarlet Sunbird, ''Aethopyga mystacalis''

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★ Temminck's Sunbird, ''Aethopyga temminckii'' - sometimes included in ''A. mystacalis''

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★ Fire-tailed Sunbird, ''Aethopyga ignicauda''

★ 'Genus ''Arachnothera''' - spiderhunters (10-11 species)

External links

★ Sunbird videos on the Internet Bird Collection

★ Picture of Superb Sunbird