Sunbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sunbirds and spiderhunters |
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_Photograph_by_Shantanu_Kuveskar.jpg) |
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| ♂ Vigors's sunbird from Maharashtra, India | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Superfamily: | Passeroidea |
| Family: | Nectariniidae Vigors, 1825 |
Sunbirds and spiderhunters are two groups of amazing birds that belong to the same family called Nectariniidae. These birds are small and slender, and they are found in the Old World (which means places like Africa, Asia, and Australia). They usually have bills that curve downwards, which helps them reach their food.
Many sunbirds are very brightly coloured, especially the males. Their feathers can look shiny and change colour in the light, like a rainbow! Some species also have long tail feathers that make them look even more special. You can mostly find these birds living near the equator, in warm places. There are about 145 different kinds of sunbirds and spiderhunters, divided into 16 groups.
What Sunbirds Eat
Most sunbirds love to drink nectar from flowers. Nectar is a sweet liquid that flowers make. They use their long, curved bills to reach deep into flowers. Sometimes, if a flower is too long, they might even make a small hole near the bottom to get to the nectar!
Besides nectar, sunbirds also eat insects and spiders. This is especially important when they are feeding their baby birds, as insects provide good protein. They also enjoy eating fruit as part of their diet.
Sunbirds and Other Birds
Sunbirds might remind you of two other types of birds:
- Hummingbirds from the Americas
- Honeyeaters from Australia
Even though these birds look and act alike, they are actually not closely related! They have developed similar ways of life because they all feed on nectar. This is called convergent evolution. It means different animals can develop similar features if they live in similar environments and eat similar foods.
Some sunbirds can even hover in the air like hummingbirds while they drink nectar. However, they usually prefer to perch on a branch or flower to feed.
Images for kids
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Female Seychelles sunbird at the nest with prey
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Sunbird drinking nectar from typical bird-pollinated flower
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See also
In Spanish: Nectariniidae para niños
