Information about Sunbird
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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.
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)
External links
- Sunbird videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Picture of Superb Sunbird
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Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. Scientific classification also can be called scientific taxonomy, but should be distinguished from folk taxonomy, which lacks scientific basis.
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Chordata
Bateson, 1885
Typical Classes
See below
Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates.
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Bateson, 1885
Typical Classes
See below
Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates.
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Aves
Linnaeus, 1758
Orders
About two dozen - see section below
Birds (class Aves) are bipedal, warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate animals.
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Linnaeus, 1758
Orders
About two dozen - see section below
Birds (class Aves) are bipedal, warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate animals.
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Passeriformes
Linnaeus, 1758
Suborders
A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. More than half of all species of bird are passerines.
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Linnaeus, 1758
Suborders
- Acanthisitti
- Tyranni
- Passeri
A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. More than half of all species of bird are passerines.
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Nicholas Aylward Vigors (1785 – October 26, 1840) was an Irish zoologist and politician.
Vigors was born at Old Leighlin, County Carlow. He studied at Trinity College, Oxford. He served in the army during the Peninsular War from 1809 to 1811.
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Vigors was born at Old Leighlin, County Carlow. He studied at Trinity College, Oxford. He served in the army during the Peninsular War from 1809 to 1811.
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18th century - 19th century - 20th century
1790s 1800s 1810s - 1820s - 1830s 1840s 1850s
1822 1823 1824 - 1825 - 1826 1827 1828
:
Subjects: Archaeology - Architecture -
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1790s 1800s 1810s - 1820s - 1830s 1840s 1850s
1822 1823 1824 - 1825 - 1826 1827 1828
:
Subjects: Archaeology - Architecture -
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Arachnothera
Temminck, 1826
Species
See text.
The spiderhunters are birds of the genus Arachnothera, part of the Sunbird family.
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Temminck, 1826
Species
See text.
The spiderhunters are birds of the genus Arachnothera, part of the Sunbird family.
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Passeriformes
Linnaeus, 1758
Suborders
A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. More than half of all species of bird are passerines.
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Linnaeus, 1758
Suborders
- Acanthisitti
- Tyranni
- Passeri
A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. More than half of all species of bird are passerines.
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Aves
Linnaeus, 1758
Orders
About two dozen - see section below
Birds (class Aves) are bipedal, warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate animals.
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Linnaeus, 1758
Orders
About two dozen - see section below
Birds (class Aves) are bipedal, warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate animals.
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Trochilidae
Vigors, 1825
Subfamilies
Phaethornithinae
Trochilinae
For a taxonomic list of genera, see:
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Vigors, 1825
Subfamilies
Phaethornithinae
Trochilinae
For a taxonomic list of genera, see:
- List of hummingbirds in taxonomic order
- Alphabetic species list
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In evolutionary biology, convergent evolution is the process whereby organisms not closely related (not monophyletic), independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches[1].
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Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30,221,532 km² (11,668,545 sq mi) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area, and 20.4% of the total land area.
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Australasia is a term variably used to describe a region of Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes (1756).
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Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many species of birds. Migrations include movements of varied distances made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather.
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genus (plural: genera) is part of the Latinized name for an organism. It is a name which reflects the classification of the organism by grouping it with other closely similar organisms.
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A. singalensis
Binomial name
Anthreptes singalensis
(Gmelin, 1788)
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Anthreptes singalensis) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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Binomial name
Anthreptes singalensis
(Gmelin, 1788)
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Anthreptes singalensis) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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Deleornis
Wolters, 1977
species
D. fraseri
D. axillaris
Deleornis is a genus of African sunbirds. Its members are sometimes included in Anthreptes.
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Wolters, 1977
species
D. fraseri
D. axillaris
Deleornis is a genus of African sunbirds. Its members are sometimes included in Anthreptes.
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A. fraseri
Binomial name
Anthreptes fraseri
Jardine & Selby, 1843
The Scarlet-tufted Sunbird (Anthreptes fraseri) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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Binomial name
Anthreptes fraseri
Jardine & Selby, 1843
The Scarlet-tufted Sunbird (Anthreptes fraseri) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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A. axillaris
Binomial name
Anthreptes axillaris
(Reichenow, 1893)
The Grey-headed Sunbird, Anthreptes axillaris
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Binomial name
Anthreptes axillaris
(Reichenow, 1893)
The Grey-headed Sunbird, Anthreptes axillaris
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Anthreptes
Swainson, 1832
Species
About a dozen, but see text
Anthreptes is a genus of birds in the sunbird family, Nectariniidae.
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Swainson, 1832
Species
About a dozen, but see text
Anthreptes is a genus of birds in the sunbird family, Nectariniidae.
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A. rectirostris
Binomial name
Anthreptes rectirostris
(Shaw, 1812)
The Green Sunbird (Anthreptes rectirostris) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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Binomial name
Anthreptes rectirostris
(Shaw, 1812)
The Green Sunbird (Anthreptes rectirostris) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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A. rubritorques
Binomial name
Anthreptes rubritorques
Reichenow, 1905
The Banded Sunbird (Anthreptes rubritorques) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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Binomial name
Anthreptes rubritorques
Reichenow, 1905
The Banded Sunbird (Anthreptes rubritorques) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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Hedydipna
Cabanis, 1850
species
H. collaris
H. platura
H. metallica
''H. pallidigaster
Hedydipna is a genus of African sunbirds. Its members are sometimes included in Anthreptes.
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Cabanis, 1850
species
H. collaris
H. platura
H. metallica
''H. pallidigaster
Hedydipna is a genus of African sunbirds. Its members are sometimes included in Anthreptes.
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H. collaris
Binomial name
Hedydipna collaris
(Vieillot, 1819)
The Collared Sunbird, Hedydipna collaris (formerly placed in the genus Nectarinia), is a sunbird.
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Binomial name
Hedydipna collaris
(Vieillot, 1819)
The Collared Sunbird, Hedydipna collaris (formerly placed in the genus Nectarinia), is a sunbird.
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A. platurus
Binomial name
Anthreptes platurus
(Vieillot, 1819)
The Pygmy Sunbird (Anthreptes platurus) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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Binomial name
Anthreptes platurus
(Vieillot, 1819)
The Pygmy Sunbird (Anthreptes platurus) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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A. metallicus
Binomial name
Anthreptes metallicus
(Lichtenstein, 1823)
The Nile Valley Sunbird (Anthreptes metallicus) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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Binomial name
Anthreptes metallicus
(Lichtenstein, 1823)
The Nile Valley Sunbird (Anthreptes metallicus) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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A. pallidigaster
Binomial name
Anthreptes pallidigaster
Sclater & Moreau, 1935
The Amani Sunbird (Anthreptes pallidigaster) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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Binomial name
Anthreptes pallidigaster
Sclater & Moreau, 1935
The Amani Sunbird (Anthreptes pallidigaster) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.
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