Sunbirds

Indian Birds – Sunbirds:

The sunbirds and spiderhunters make up a family, Nectariniidae, of passerine birds. They are small, slender passerines from the Old World, usually with downward-curved bills. Many are brightly colored, often with iridescent feathers, particularly in the males.
Many species also have especially long tail feathers. They usually are found in flocks of 8-10 together with other birds like Ashy Prinia, White Eyes, and Flowerpeckers. They mostly feed on nectar from flowers and small insects like spiders, caterpillars which indirectly helps in pest control in flower gardens.

Lotens Sunbird

Little Spiderhunter

Leucistic Sunbird

Purple-Rumped-Sunbird

Facts:

Scientific name: Nectariniidae
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Phylum: Chordata
Mass: Olive-backed sunbird: 9 g,

The sunbirds and spiderhunters make up a family Nectariniidae of passerine birds. They are small, slender passerines from the Old World, usually with downward-curved bills.
They have iridescent feathers, particularly in 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. Extends to Indonesia, New Guinea, and northern Australia. Species diversity is highest in equatorial regions.

There are 145 species in 16 genera. Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar, but will also eat 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.
The fruit is also part of the diet of some species. Their flight is fast and direct, thanks to their short wings

Leucism is a condition of partial loss of pigmentation in animals that causes white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feather, scales, or cuticles.

Sunbirds stay in groups. Due to its small size, the are very fast-moving.

reference: @wikipedia

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