Skip to content
sunbird

File:♂_Vigors's_sunbird_(Aethopyga_vigorsii)_Photograph_by_Shantanu_Kuveskar.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ208221· pop 70· linked from 472 articles

Also known as Nectariniidae, spiderhunter

Sunbirds and spiderhunters make up the family Nectariniidae of passerine birds. They are small, slender passerines from the Old World, usually with downward-curved bills. Many are brightly coloured, often with iridescent feathers, particularly in the males. Many species also have especially long tail feathers. Their range extends through most of Africa to the Middle East, South Asia, South-east Asia and southern China, to Indonesia, New Guinea and northern Australia. Species diversity is highest in equatorial regions.

AI overview

Sunbirds are small, colorful passerine birds from Africa, Asia, and Australia, typically featuring slender bodies, curved bills, and often iridescent feathers that are especially vibrant in males. They play an ecological role in their native regions, where they are most abundant in equatorial areas and are part of a larger family of birds that also includes spiderhunters.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Species

sunbirds

Family

  1. PhylumChordata
  2. ClassAves
  3. OrderPasseriformes
  4. FamilyNectariniidae
Observations11,768

Les Nectariniidae (ou nectariniidés) sont une famille de passereaux constituée de 16 genres et de plus de 140 espèces d'arachnothères et de souimangas. Sommaire 1 Répartition 2 Position systématique 3 Étymologie 4 Taxinomie 4.1 Liste alphabétique des genres 4.2 Liste des espèces 5 Voir aussi 5.1 Références taxonomique Répartition Leur répartition géographique va de la zone éthiopienne et au sud de la zone paléarctique, jusqu'à la zone orientale et à la zone australasienne. Position systématique Dans la classification de Richard Howard et Alick Moore, elle comprend les 115 espèces de souïmangas répartis en 4 genres et les 11 espèces d'arachnothères. Dans la classification de Charles Sibley et Burt Monroe (1993), les Dicaeidae sont intégrées aux nectariniidés qui atteignent alors 8 genres et 171 espèces. Étymologie Le nom de cette famille vient du genre Nectarinia qui tire son nom du régime alimentaire de ces oiseaux, le nectar des fleurs. Le nom « souïmanga » est d'origine malgache. Il peut s'écrire sans trèma, avec ou sans tiret. Le nom anglais «sunbird» signifie « oiseau soleil » car les mâles ont des reflets métalliques dans leur magnifique plumage. Le nom des arachnothères (ou a

via

Wikidata facts

Image
Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica)- Male (Breeding) on Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) in Kolkata I IMG 1893.jpg
Show 4 more facts
Commons category
Nectariniidae
taxon name
Nectariniidae
Commons gallery
Nectariniidae
taxon common name
solfuglfamilien
Sources (2)

via Wikidata · CC0

~10 min read

Article

9 sections
Contents
  • Description
  • Distribution and habitat
  • Behaviour and ecology
  • Breeding
  • Pollination
  • Relationship with humans
  • List of genera
  • References
  • External links

Sunbirds and spiderhunters make up the family Nectariniidae of passerine birds. They are small, slender passerines from the Old World, usually with downward-curved bills. Many are brightly coloured, often with iridescent feathers, particularly in the males. Many species also have especially long tail feathers. Their range extends through most of Africa to the Middle East, South Asia, South-east Asia and southern China, to Indonesia, New Guinea and northern Australia. Species diversity is highest in equatorial regions.

There are 152 species in 16 genera. Their family name is from most sunbirds feeding largely on nectar, but they will also catch insects and spiders, especially when feeding their young. Flowers that prevent access to their nectar because of their shape (for example, very long and narrow flowers) are simply punctured at the base near the nectaries, from which the birds sip the nectar. Fruit is also part of the diet of some species. Their flight is fast and direct, thanks to their short wings.

Gallery (52)

Connections

Categories