The Nectariniidae (scientific name) or sunbird is a small family of birds distributed from rainforests to savannah and alpine forests, in Africa, India, South-East Asia and North Australia. These birds along with the Spiderhunters make up this family. Measuring just 4 inches on an average, the sunbird have bright iridescent colours. They have long thin downward curved beaks and tubular tongues. This helps them to take nectar from flowers. Their diet includes nectar, fruits, and sometimes insects and spiders. An average clutch has 2-4 eggs laid in purse-shaped nests made of twigs but also spider webs. Incubation period is about 2 weeks. While only 7 species in this
family are threatened with EXTINCTION, most sunbirds have an IUCN listing of the LEAST CONCERN.
Sunbird
