Sunbird Totally Explained

Everything about Sunbird totally explained

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although that'll 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're 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.

Systematics

FAMILY NECTARINIIDAE

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

Genus Deleornis (sometimes included in Anthreptes)

Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, Deleornis fraseri
Grey-headed Sunbird, Deleornis axillaris - sometimes included in D. fraseri

Genus Anthreptes (c.12 species)

Green Sunbird, Anthreptes rectirostris
Banded Sunbird, Anthreptes rubritorques

Genus Hedydipna (sometimes included in Anthreptes)

Collared Sunbird, Hedydipna collaris
Pygmy Sunbird, Hedydipna platura
Nile Valley Sunbird, Hedydipna metallica
Amani Sunbird, Hedydipna pallidigaster

Genus Hypogramma

Purple-naped Sunbird, Hypogramma hypogrammicum

Genus Anabathmis (sometimes included in Nectarinia)

Reichenbach's Sunbird, Anabathmis reichenbachii
Principe Sunbird, Anabathmis hartlaubii
Newton's Sunbird, Anabathmis newtonii

Genus Dreptes (sometimes included in Nectarinia)

Sao Tome Sunbird, Dreptes thomensis

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

Genus Cyanomitra (sometimes included in Nectarinia)

Green-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Cyanomitra cyanolaema
Blue-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra alinae
Cameroon Sunbird, Cyanomitra oritis
Bannerman's Sunbird, Cyanomitra bannermani
Eastern Olive Sunbird, Cyanomitra olivacea
Western Olive Sunbird, Cyanomitra obscura
Mouse-coloured Sunbird, Cyanomitra veroxii

Genus Chalcomitra (sometimes included in Nectarinia)

Buff-throated Sunbird, Chalcomitra adelberti
Carmelite Sunbird, Chalcomitra fuliginosa
Green-throated Sunbird, Chalcomitra rubescens
Amethyst Sunbird, Chalcomitra amethystina
Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Chalcomitra senegalensis
Hunter's Sunbird, Chalcomitra hunteri
Socotra Sunbird, Chalcomitra balfouri

Genus Leptocoma (sometimes included in Nectarinia)

Purple-rumped Sunbird, Leptocoma zeylonica
Crimson-backed Sunbird, Leptocoma minima
Copper-throated Sunbird, Leptocoma calcostetha
Purple-throated Sunbird, Leptocoma sperata
Black Sunbird, Leptocoma sericea - formerly Nectarinia aspasia

Genus Nectarinia (8 species in the strict sense)

Genus Cinnyris (sometimes included in Nectarinia)

Olive-bellied Sunbird, Cinnyris chloropygius
Tiny Sunbird, Cinnyris minullus
Miombo Sunbird, Cinnyris manoensis
Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris chalybeus
Neergaard's Sunbird, Cinnyris neergaardi
Stuhlmann's Sunbird, Cinnyris stuhlmanni - sometimes included in C. afer
Prigogine's Sunbird, Cinnyris prigoginei - sometimes included in C. afer
Montane Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris ludovicensis - sometimes included in C. afer
Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris preussi
Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris afer
Regal Sunbird, Cinnyris regius
Rockefeller's Sunbird, Cinnyris rockefelleri
Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris mediocris
Moreau's Sunbird, Cinnyris moreaui
Beautiful Sunbird, Cinnyris pulchellus
Loveridge's Sunbird, Cinnyris loveridgei
Mariqua Sunbird, Cinnyris mariquensis
Shelley's Sunbird, Cinnyris shelleyi
Congo Sunbird, Cinnyris congensis
Red-chested Sunbird, Cinnyris erythrocerca
Black-bellied Sunbird, Cinnyris nectarinioides
Purple-banded Sunbird, Cinnyris bifasciatus
Tsavo Sunbird, Cinnyris tsavoensis - sometimes included in C. bifasciatus
Violet-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris chalcomelas
Pemba Sunbird, Cinnyris pembae
Orange-tufted Sunbird, Cinnyris bouvieri
Palestine Sunbird, Cinnyris oseus
Shining Sunbird, Cinnyris habessinicus
Splendid Sunbird, Cinnyris coccinigaster
Johanna's Sunbird, Cinnyris johannae
Superb Sunbird, Cinnyris superbus
Rufous-winged Sunbird, Cinnyris rufipennis
Oustalet's Sunbird, Cinnyris oustaleti
White-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris talatala
Variable Sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
Dusky Sunbird, Cinnyris fuscus
Ursula's Sunbird, Cinnyris ursulae
Bates' Sunbird, Cinnyris batesi
Copper Sunbird, Cinnyris cupreus
Purple Sunbird, Cinnyris asiaticus
Olive-backed Sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis
Apricot-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris buettikoferi
Flame-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris solaris
Souimanga Sunbird, Cinnyris sovimanga
Seychelles Sunbird, Cinnyris dussumieri
Madagascar Sunbird, Cinnyris notatus
Humblot's Sunbird, Cinnyris humbloti
Anjouan Sunbird, Cinnyris comorensis
Mayotte Sunbird, Cinnyris coquerellii
Long-billed Sunbird, Cinnyris lotenius

Genus Aethopyga

Gray-hooded Sunbird, Aethopyga primigenia
Mount Apo Sunbird, Aethopyga boltoni
Lina's Sunbird, Aethopyga linaraborae
Flaming Sunbird, Aethopyga flagrans
Metallic-winged Sunbird, Aethopyga pulcherrima
Elegant Sunbird, Aethopyga duyvenbodei
Lovely Sunbird, Aethopyga shelleyi
Handsome Sunbird, Aethopyga belli
Gould's Sunbird, Aethopyga gouldiae
White-flanked Sunbird, Aethopyga eximia
Green-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga nipalensis
Fork-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga christinae
Black-throated Sunbird, Aethopyga saturata
Western Crimson Sunbird, Aethopyga vigorsii - sometimes included in A. siparaja
Crimson Sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja
Scarlet Sunbird, Aethopyga mystacalis
Temminck's Sunbird, Aethopyga temminckii - sometimes included in A. mystacalis
Fire-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga ignicauda

Genus Arachnothera - spiderhunters (10-11 species)

Gallery

Image:Collaredsunbird.jpg Image:Plain-throated Sunbird.jpg Image:Orange-breasted Sunbird (Nectarinia violacea).jpg Image:CinnyrisMinimusMurray.jpg Image:Purple-rumped Sunbird (Male) I2 IMG 7524.jpg Image:PurpleSunbird.jpg Image:Nectarinia regia.jpg Image:Nordoublecllaredsunbird.jpg Image:Redchestedsunbird.jpg Image:Nectarinia osea (fledgling).JPG Image:Arachnothera longirostra.jpg Further Information

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