Sunbird

Sunbirds and spiderhunters
Crimson Sunbird and Spectacled Spiderhunter
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Clade:	Inopinaves
Order:	Passeriformes
Suborder:	Passeri
Clade:	Basal Passeroidea
Family:	Nectariniidae Vigors, 1825
Genera
Basal Kurochkinegramma (Kashin, 1978) Arachnothera Temminck, 1826 Branch 1 Chalcoparia Cabanis, 1851 Anthreptes Swainson, 1832 Leptocoma Cabanis, 1851 Aethopyga Cabanis, 1851 Branch 2 Anabathmis Reichenow, 1905 Anthobaphes Cabanis, 1851 Branch 3 Hedydipna Cabanis, 1851 Branch 4 Nectarinia Illiger, 1811 Cyanomitra Reichenbach, 1854 Chalcomitra Reichenbach, 1854 Branch 5 Deleornis Wolters, 1977 Anthodiaeta Cabanis, 1850 Cyrtostomus Cabanis, 1851 Cinnyris Cuvier, 1871 Position unknown Arachnechthra Cabanis, 1851

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This article contains made-up species!
This article contains made-up species not found on Earth. They will be highlighted in pink.

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The sunbirds and spiderhunters are a family, Nectariniidae, of very small passerine birds. There are 132 species in 15 genera. The family is distributed throughout Africa, southern Asia and just reaches northern Australia. Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar, but also take insects and spiders, especially when feeding young. Flower tubes that bar access to nectar because of their shape, are simply punctured at the base near the nectaries. Fruit is also part of the diet of some species. Their flight is fast and direct on their short wings.

The sunbirds have counterparts in two very distantly related groups: the hummingbirds of the Americas and the honeyeaters of Australia. The resemblances are due to convergent evolution brought about by a similar nectar-feeding lifestyle. Some sunbird species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Description

Purple Sunbird, Male, (Nagpur, India)

The family ranges in size from the 5-gram Black-bellied Sunbird to the Spectacled Spiderhunter, at about 45 grams. Like the hummingbirds, sunbirds are strongly sexually dimorphic, with the males usually brilliantly plumaged in iridescent colours. In addition to this the tails of many species are longer in the males, and overall the males are larger. Sunbirds have long thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations to their nectar feeding.

The spiderhunters, of the genus Arachnothera, are distinct in appearance from the other members of the family. They are typically larger than the other sunbirds, with drab brown plumage that is the same for both sexes and long down-curved beaks.

In metabolic behaviour similar to that of Andes hummingbirds, species of sunbirds that live at high altitudes or latitudes will enter torpor while roosting at night, lowering their body temperature and entering a state of low activity and responsiveness.

Distribution and habitat

Purple Sunbird, female, (Nagpur, India)

Sunbirds are a tropical Old World family, with representatives in Africa, Asia and Australasia. In Africa they are found mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar but are also distributed in Egypt. In Asia the group occurs along the coasts of the Red Sea as far north as Israel, with a gap in their distribution till Iran, from where the group occurs continuously as far as southern China and Indonesia. In Australasia the family occurs in New Guinea, north eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands. They are generally not found on oceanic islands, with the exception of the Seychelles. The greatest variety of species is found in Africa, where the group probably arose. Most species are sedentary or short-distance seasonal migrants. Sunbirds occur over the entire family's range, whereas the spiderhunters are restricted to Asia.

The sunbirds and spiderhunters occupy a wide range of habitats, with a majority of species being found in primary rainforest, but other habitats used by the family including disturbed secondary forest, open woodland, open scrub and savannah, coastal scrub and alpine forest. Some species have readily adapted to human modified landscapes such as plantations, gardens and agricultural land. Many species are able to occupy a wide range of habitats from sea level to 4900 m.

Behaviour

Sunbird are active diurnal birds that generally occur in pairs or occasionally in small family groups. A few species occasionally gather in larger groups, and sunbird will join with other birds to mob potential predators, although sunbirds will also aggressively target other species, even if they are not predators, when defending their territories.

Breeding

Juvenile Olive-backed Sunbird in the nest

The sunbirds that breed outside of the equatorial regions are mostly seasonal breeders, with the majority of these species breeding in the wet season. This timing reflects the increased availability of insect prey for the growing young. Where species, like the Buff-throated Sunbird, breed in the dry season, it is thought to be associated with the flowering of favoured food plants. Species of sunbird in the equatorial areas breed throughout the year. They are generally monogamous and often territorial, although a few species of sunbirds have lekking behaviour.

The nests of sunbirds are generally purse-shaped, enclosed, suspended from thin branches with generous use of spiderweb. The nests of the spiderhunters are different, both from the sunbirds and in some cases from each other. Some, like the Little Spiderhunter, are small woven cups attached to the underside of large leaves; that of the Yellow-eared Spiderhunter is similarly attached but is a long tube. The nests of spiderhunters are inconspicuous, in contrast to those of the other sunbirds which are more visible. In most species the female alone constructs the nest. Up to four eggs are laid. The female builds the nest and incubates the eggs alone, although the male assists in rearing the nestlings. In the spiderhunters both sexes help to incubate the eggs. The nests of sunbirds and spiderhunters are often targeted by brood parasites such as cuckoos and honeyguides.

Relationship with humans

Overall the family has fared better than many others, with only seven species considered to be threatened with extinction. Most species are fairly resistant to changes in habitat, and while attractive the family is not sought after by the cagebird trade, as they have what is considered an unpleasant song and are tricky to keep alive. Sunbirds are considered attractive birds and readily enter gardens where flowering plants are planted to attract them. There are a few negative interactions, for example the Scarlet-chested Sunbird is considered a pest in cocoa plantations as it spreads parasitic mistletoes.

Species

FAMILY NECTARINIIDAE

1. Genus Kurochkinegramma - Purple-naped Sunbird
   1. Purple-naped Sunbird, Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum

1. Genus Arachnothera - spiderhunters (13 species)
   1. Thick-billed Spiderhunter, Arachnothera crassirostris
   2. Long-billed Spiderhunter, Arachnothera robusta
   3. Orange-tufted Spiderhunter, Arachnothera flammifera
   4. Little Spiderhunter, Arachnothera longirostra
   5. Pale Spiderhunter, Arachnothera dilutior
   6. Whitehead's Spiderhunter Arachnothera juliae
   7. Yellow-eared Spiderhunter Arachnothera chrysogenys
   8. Naked-faced Spiderhunter Arachnothera clarae
   9. Spectacled Spiderhunter Arachnothera flavigaster
   10. Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna
   11. Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera affinis
   12. Grey-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera modesta - split from A. affinis (Moyle et al. (2011))
   13. Bornean Spiderhunter, Arachnothera everetti

1. Genus Chalcoparia (sometimes included in Anthreptes)
   1. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Chalcoparia singalensis

1. Genus Anthreptes (4 species)
   1. Plain Sunbird, Anthreptes simplex
   2. Brown-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes malacensis
   3. Grey-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes griseigularis
   4. Red-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes rhodolaemus

1. Genus Leptocoma (6 species)
   1. Purple-rumped Sunbird, Leptocoma zeylonica
   2. Crimson-backed Sunbird, Leptocoma minima
   3. Purple-throated Sunbird, Leptocoma sperata
   4. Van Hasselt's Sunbird, Leptocoma brasiliana
   5. Black Sunbird, Leptocoma sericea
   6. Copper-throated Sunbird, Leptocoma calcostetha
2. Genus Aethopyga
   1. Elegant Sunbird, Aethopyga duyvenbodei
   2. Fire-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga ignicauda
   3. Black-throated Sunbird, Aethopyga saturata
   4. Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, Aethopyga gouldiae
   5. Green-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga nipalensis
   6. Vigor's Sunbird, Aethopyga vigorsii - sometimes included in A. siparaja
   7. Crimson Sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja
   8. Magnificent Sunbird, Aethopyga magnifica
   9. Lovely Sunbird, Aethopyga shelleyi
   10. Temminck's Sunbird, Aethopyga temminckii - sometimes included in A. mystacalis
   11. Javan Sunbird, Aethopyga mystacalis
   12. Handsome Sunbird, Aethopyga belli
   13. White-flanked Sunbird, Aethopyga eximia
   14. Fork-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga christinae
   15. Flaming Sunbird, Aethopyga flagrans
   16. Maroon-naped Sunbird, Aethopyga guimarasensis
   17. Bohol Sunbird, Aethopyga decorosa
   18. Luzon Sunbird, Aethopyga jefferyi
   19. Metallic-winged Sunbird, Aethopyga pulcherrima
   20. Lina's Sunbird, Aethopyga linaraborae
   21. Grey-hooded Sunbird, Aethopyga primigenia
   22. Apo Sunbird, Aethopyga boltoni
   23. Tboli Sunbird, Aethopyga tibolii

1. Genus Anabathmis (3 species)
   1. Reichenbach's Sunbird, Anabathmis reichenbachii
   2. Principe Sunbird, Anabathmis hartlaubii
   3. Newton's Sunbird, Anabathmis newtonii

1. Genus Anthobaphes (16 species)
   1. Orange-breasted Sunbird, Anthobaphes violacea
   2. Regal Sunbird, Anthobaphes regius
   3. Rockefeller's Sunbird, Anthobaphes rockefelleri
   4. Neergaard's Sunbird, Anthobaphes neergaardi
   5. Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Anthobaphes afer
   6. Miombo Double-collared Sunbird, Anthobaphes manoensis
   7. Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Anthobaphes chalybeus
   8. Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Anthobaphes reichenowi
   9. Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Anthobaphes stuhlmanni - sometimes included in C. afer
   10. Prigogine's Double-collared Sunbird, Anthobaphes prigoginei - sometimes included in C. afer
   11. Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird, Anthobaphes ludovicensis - sometimes included in C. afer
   12. Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Anthobaphes mediocris
   13. Usambara Double-collared Sunbird, Anthobaphes usambaricus
   14. Forest Double-collared Sunbird, Anthobaphes fuelleborni
   15. Moreau's Sunbird, Anthobaphes moreaui
   16. Loveridge's Sunbird, Anthobaphes loveridgei

1. Genus Hedydipna (10 species)
   1. Pygmy Sunbird, Hedydipna platura
   2. Nile Valley Sunbird, Hedydipna metallica
   3. Amani Sunbird, Hedydipna pallidigaster
   4. Plain-backed Sunbird, Hedydipna reichenowi
   5. Anchieta's Sunbird, Hedydipna anchietae
   6. Mangrove Sunbird, Hedydipna gabonica
   7. Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Hedydipna longuemarei
   8. Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Hedydipna orientalis
   9. Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird, Hedydip**na neglecta
   10. Violet-tailed Sunbird, Hedydipna aurantia

1. Genus Nectarinia (5 species)
   1. Olive Sunbird, Nectarinia olivacea
   2. Grey Sunbird, Nectarinia veroxii
   3. Malachite Sunbird, Nectarinia famosa
   4. Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, Nectarinia johnstoni
   5. White's Sunbird, Nectarinia whitei^{[made-up sp.]}

1. Genus Cyanomitra (7 species)
   1. Golden-winged Sunbird, Nectarinia reichenowi
   2. Rufous-winged Sunbird, Cinnyris rufipennis
   3. Green-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis
   4. Bannerman's Sunbird, Cyanomitra bannermani
   5. Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Cyanomitra cyanolaema
   6. Blue-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra alinae
   7. Cameroon Sunbird, Cyanomitra oritis

1. Genus Chalcomitra (25 species)
   1. Olive-bellied Sunbird, Chalcomitra chloropygius
   2. Tiny Sunbird, Chalcomitra minullus
   3. Malagasy Green Sunbird, Chalcomitra notata
   4. Violet-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris chalcomelas
   5. Pemba Sunbird, Cinnyris pembae
   6. Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Chalcomitra senegalensis
   7. Hunter's Sunbird, Chalcomitra hunteri
   8. Buff-throated Sunbird, Chalcomitra adelberti
   9. Carmelite Sunbird, Chalcomitra fuliginosa
   10. Green-throated Sunbird, Chalcomitra rubescens
   11. Amethyst Sunbird, Chalcomitra amethystina
   12. Marico Sunbird, Chalcomitra mariquensis
   13. Purple-banded Sunbird, Chalcomitra bifasciatus
   14. Tsavo Sunbird, Chalcomitra tsavoensis - sometimes included in C. bifasciatus
   15. Shelley's Sunbird, Chalcomitra shelleyi
   16. Hofmann's Sunbird, Chalcomitra hofmanni
   17. Congo Sunbird, Chalcomitra congensis
   18. Red-chested Sunbird, Chalcomitra erythrocerca
   19. Black-bellied Sunbird, Chalcomitra nectarinioides
   20. Copper Sunbird, Chalcomitra cupreus
   21. Beautiful Sunbird, Chalcomitra pulchellus
   22. Bocage's Sunbird, Chalcomitra bocagii
   23. Purple-breasted Sunbird, Chalcomitra purpureiventris
   24. Tacazze Sunbird, Chalcomitra tacazze
   25. Bronze Sunbird, Chalcomitra kilimensis

1. Genus Deleornis (6 species)
   1. Fraser's Sunbird, Deleornis fraseri
   2. Grey-headed Sunbird, Deleornis axillaris - sometimes included in D. fraseri
   3. Little Green Sunbird, Deleornis seimundi
   4. Bates's Sunbird, Deleornis batesi
   5. Grey-chinned Sunbird, Deleornis rectirostris
   6. Banded Green Sunbird, Deleornis rubritorques

1. Genus Anthodiaeta
   1. Collared Sunbird, Anthodiaeta collaris

1. Genus Cyrtostomus
   1. Olive-backed Sunbird, Cyrtostomus jugularis
   2. Apricot-breasted Sunbird, Cyrtostomus buettikoferi
   3. Flame-breasted Sunbird, Cyrtostomus solaris

1. Genus Cinnyris (18 species)
   1. Giant Sunbird, Dreptes thomensis
   2. Socotra Sunbird, Chalcomitra balfouri
   3. Orange-tufted Sunbird, Cinnyris bouvieri
   4. Palestine Sunbird, Cinnyris oseus
   5. Shining Sunbird, Cinnyris habessinicus
   6. Splendid Sunbird, Cinnyris coccinigaster
   7. Johanna's Sunbird, Cinnyris johannae
   8. Superb Sunbird, Cinnyris superbus
   9. Oustalet's Sunbird, Cinnyris oustaleti
   10. White-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris talatala
   11. Variable Sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
   12. Dusky Sunbird, Cinnyris fuscus
   13. Ursula's Sunbird, Cinnyris ursulae
   14. Seychelles Sunbird, Cinnyris dussumieri
   15. Humblot's Sunbird, Cinnyris humbloti
   16. Mayotte Sunbird, Cinnyris coquerellii
   17. Anjouan Sunbird, Cinnyris comorensis
   18. Souimanga Sunbird, Cinnyris sovimanga

1. Genus Arachnechthra (2 species)
   1. Purple Sunbird, Arachnechthra asiaticus
   2. Long-billed Sunbird, Arachnechthra lotenius

Gallery

References

External links

• Sunbird videos on the Internet Bird Collection

This article is part of Project Bird Families, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each bird family, including made-up families.

This article is part of Project Bird Taxonomy, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every order, family and other taxonomic rank related to birds.