Nectariniidae – Sunbirds & Spiderhunters
The Nectariniidae is a passerine family, set between Dicaeidae (flowerpeckers) and Chloropseidae (leafbirds) of mostly very small sunbirds and spiderhunters. There are between 150 and 154 species (depending on forthcoming research) in 16 genera. They are small (9-22cm long), slender passerines from the Old-World, usually with downward-curved bills. Many are brightly coloured, often with iridescent feathers, particularly in the sunbird males. Many species also have especially long tail feathers.
Their range extends from Africa to Australia, across Madagascar, Egypt, Iran, Yemen, southern China, the Indian subcontinent, the Indochinese peninsulas, the Philippines, Southeast Asia and the surrounding Pacific islands, and the uppermost part of northern Australia. The number of species is greater in equatorial and tropical regions.
Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus – ©Dubi Shapiro
Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar, but also take insects and spiders, especially when feeding young. Flower tubes that bar access to nectar because of their shape, are simply punctured at the base near the nectaries. Fruit is also part of the diet of some species. Their flight is fast and direct on their short wings.
In metabolic behaviour similar to that of Andes hummingbirds, species of sunbirds that live at high altitudes or latitudes will enter torpor while roosting at night, lowering their body temperature and entering a state of low activity and responsiveness.
Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA
The family occupy a wide range of habitats, with a majority of species being found in primary rainforest, but other habitats used by the family including disturbed secondary forest, open woodland, open scrub and savannah, coastal scrub and alpine forest. Some species have readily adapted to human modified landscapes such as plantations, gardens and agricultural land. Many species are able to occupy a wide range of habitats from sea level to 4900m.
The sunbirds have counterparts in two very distantly related groups: the hummingbirds of the Americas and the honeyeaters of Australia. The resemblances are due to convergent evolution brought about by a similar nectar-feeding lifestyle. Some sunbird species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but they usually perch to feed.
Rufous-winged Sunbird Cinnyris rufipennis – ©Dubi Shapiro
Morphologically, sunbirds used to be considered close relatives of the Meliphagidae (honeycreepers) and the Zosteropidae(white-eyes), but analyses of their DNA, places them with the flowerpeckers and sugarbirds.
Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea – ©Dubi Shapiro
They can be noisy and conspicuous sometimes forming parties of as many as 20 birds and can aggressively defend feeding or nesting territories.
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Number of bird species: 150 or 154
(As at July 2025)
According to IOC and most other authorities there are between 150 and 154 sunbirds and spiderhunters in the family Nectariniidae. (The jury is out on four possible splits awaiting thorough DNA and other research – below, those four have brackets around the species name, followed by the race name, which would be the species name if they are elevated) they are:
Purple-naped Spiderhunter Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum
Thick-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera crassirostris
Long-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera robusta
Orange-tufted Spiderhunter Arachnothera flammifera
Pale Spiderhunter Arachnothera dilutior
Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra
Whitehead’s Spiderhunter Arachnothera juliae
Naked-faced Spiderhunter Arachnothera clarae
Yellow-eared Spiderhunter Arachnothera chrysogenys
Spectacled Spiderhunter Arachnothera flavigaster
Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna
Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera affinis
Grey-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera modesta
Bornean Spiderhunter Arachnothera everetti
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis
Plain-backed Sunbird Anthreptes reichenowi
Anchieta’s Sunbird Anthreptes anchietae
Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex
Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis
Grey-throated Sunbird Anthreptes griseigularis
Red-throated Sunbird Anthreptes rhodolaemus
Mangrove Sunbird Anthreptes gabonicus
Western Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes longuemarei
Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes orientalis
Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes neglectus
Violet-tailed Sunbird Anthreptes aurantius
Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi
Yellow-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris
Grey-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes tephrolaemus
Banded Green Sunbird Anthreptes rubritorques
Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica
Crimson-backed Sunbird Leptocoma minima
Van Hasselt’s Sunbird Leptocoma brasiliana
Purple-throated Sunbird Leptocoma sperata
Black Sunbird Leptocoma aspasia
Copper-throated Sunbird Leptocoma calcostetha
Elegant Sunbird Aethopyga duyvenbodei
Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda
Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata
Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae
Green-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga nipalensis
Lovely Sunbird Aethopyga shelleyi
Temminck’s Sunbird Aethopyga temminckii
Javan Sunbird Aethopyga mystacalis
Vigors’s Sunbird Aethopyga vigorsii
Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja
Magnificent Sunbird Aethopyga magnifica
Fork-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga christinae
Handsome Sunbird Aethopyga bella
White-flanked Sunbird Aethopyga eximia
Flaming Sunbird Aethopyga flagrans
Maroon-naped Sunbird Aethopyga guimarasensis
Metallic-winged Sunbird Aethopyga pulcherrima
Luzon Sunbird Aethopyga (pulcherrima) jefferyi
Bohol Sunbird Aethopyga (pulcherrima) decorosa
Lina’s Sunbird Aethopyga linaraborae
Grey-hooded Sunbird Aethopyga primigenia
Apo Sunbird Aethopyga boltoni
Tboli Sunbird Aethopyga tibolii
Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris
Pygmy Sunbird Hedydipna platura
Nile Valley Sunbird Hedydipna metallica
Amani Sunbird Hedydipna pallidigaster
Reichenbach’s Sunbird Anabathmis reichenbachii
Principe Sunbird Anabathmis hartlaubii
Newton’s Sunbird Anabathmis newtonii
Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea
Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis
Bannerman’s Sunbird Cyanomitra bannermani
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema
Cameroon Sunbird Cyanomitra oritis
Blue-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra alinae
Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea
Grey Sunbird Cyanomitra veroxii
Grey-headed Sunbird Deleornis axillaris
Fraser’s Sunbird Deleornis fraseri
Giant Sunbird Dreptes thomensis
Bocage’s Sunbird Nectarinia bocagii
Purple-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia purpureiventris
Tacazze Sunbird Nectarinia tacazze
Bronzy Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis
Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa
Scarlet-tufted Sunbird Nectarinia johnstoni
Golden-winged Sunbird Drepanorhynchus reichenowi
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
Olive-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris chloropygius
Tiny Sunbird Cinnyris minullus
Western Miombo Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris gertudis
Eastern Miombo Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris manoensis
Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus
Neergaard’s Sunbird Cinnyris neergaardi
Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris stuhlmanni
Prigogine’s Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris prigoginei
Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris ludovicensis
Northern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris reichenowi
Greater Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris afer
Regal Sunbird Cinnyris regius
Rockefeller’s Sunbird Cinnyris rockefelleri
Eastern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris mediocris
Usambara Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris usambaricus
Forest Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris fuelleborni
Moreau’s Sunbird Cinnyris moreaui
Loveridge’s Sunbird Cinnyris loveridgei
Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus
Gorgeous Sunbird Cinnyris melanogastrus
Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis
Shelley’s Sunbird Cinnyris shelleyi
Hofmann’s Sunbird Cinnyris (shelleyi) hofmanni
Congo Sunbird Cinnyris congensis
Red-chested Sunbird Cinnyris erythrocercus
Black-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris nectarinioides
Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus
Tsavo Sunbird Cinnyris tsavoensis
Violet-breasted Sunbird Cinnyris chalcomelas
Pemba Sunbird Cinnyris pembae
Orange-tufted Sunbird Cinnyris bouvieri
Palestine Sunbird Cinnyris osea
Shining Sunbird Cinnyris habessinicus
Splendid Sunbird Cinnyris coccinigastrus
Johanna’s Sunbird Cinnyris johannae
Superb Sunbird Cinnyris superbus
Rufous-winged Sunbird Cinnyris rufipennis
Oustalet’s Sunbird Cinnyris oustaleti
White-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris talatala
Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus
Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fuscus
Ursula’s Sunbird Cinnyris ursulae
Bates’s Sunbird Cinnyris batesi
Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus
Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus
Ornate Sunbird Cinnyris ornatus
Tukangbesi Sunbird Cinnyris infrenatus
Sahul SAunbird Cinnyris frenatus
Garden Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis
Palawan Sunbird Cinnyris aurora
South Moluccan Sunbird Cinnyris clementiae
Flores Sea Sunbird Cinnyris teysmanni
Mamberamo Sunbird Cinnyris idenburgi
Apricot-breasted Sunbird Cinnyris buettikoferi
Flame-breasted Sunbird Cinnyris solaris
Souimanga Sunbird Cinnyris sovimanga
Abbott’s Sunbird Cinnyris (sovimanga) abbotti
Malagasy Green Sunbird Cinnyris notatus
Seychelles Sunbird Cinnyris dussumieri
Humblot’s Sunbird Cinnyris humbloti
Anjouan Sunbird Cinnyris comorensis
Mayotte Sunbird Cinnyris coquerellii
Loten’s Sunbird Cinnyris lotenius
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Roberts Sunbirds and Sugarbirds of Southern Africa
By Gail Darroll(Illustrator), Mark Brown & Ingrid Weiersbye | 2025 | Jacana Publishers | Hardback | 352 pages, colour photos, colour illustrations, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781920602086 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Sunbirds of the World - Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Spiderhunters and Sugarbirds
| By Robert A Cheke, Clive F Mann and Richard Allen | Helm | 2025 | Edition 2 | Hardback | 608 pages, 58 plates with colour illustrations; colour photos, b/w illustrations, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781472937438 Buy this book from NHBS.com
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Nectariniidae
InformationSunbirds and Spiderhunters -
Sunbirds
InformationSunbirds and spiderhunters make up the family Nectariniidae of passerine birds.
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Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina
Species AccountLarge sunbird with a long but thin bill. Males sometimes look all-black but also show green and maroon iridescent patches in good light. -
Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina
Species AccountThe amethyst sunbird, also called the black sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina), is a species of passerine bird in the family Nectariniidae. -
Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus
Species AccountThe beautiful sunbird (Cinnyris pulchella; formerly placed in the genus Nectarinia) is a sunbird. It is native to tropical Africa, its range extending from Senegal and Guinea in the west to Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya in the east. -
Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Black Sunbird Leptocoma aspasia
Species AccountA small songbird with a long downcurved bill. Male is blackish with iridescent areas: crown glossed greenish or blue, and shoulders, rump, and tail glossed... -
Black Sunbird Leptocoma aspasia
Species AccountThe black sunbird (Leptocoma aspasia) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in eastern Indonesia and New Guinea. -
Black Sunbird Leptocoma aspasia
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Blue-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra alinae
Species AccountPretty, medium-sized sunbird with an iridescent blue head and breast. The yellow shoulder tufts are usually hidden. Note the red eye. -
Blue-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra alinae
Species AccountThe blue-headed sunbird (Cyanomitra alinae) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is native to the Albertine Rift montane forests. -
Blue-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra alinae
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Flaming Sunbird Aethopyga flagrans
Species AccountA small bird of forest and edge from the lowlands to low elevations in the mountains on Luzon and Catanduanes. -
Flaming Sunbird Aethopyga flagrans
Species AccountThe flaming sunbird (Aethopyga flagrans) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the northern Philippines... -
Flaming Sunbird Aethopyga flagrans
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Fraser's Sunbird Deleornis fraseri
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Fraser's Sunbird Deleornis fraseri
Species AccountFraser's Sunbird Deleornis fraseri A sunbird masquerading as a warbler, this medium-sized sunbird of forest and forest edge is often found in small groups... -
Fraser's Sunbird Deleornis fraseri
Species AccountFraser's sunbird (Deleornis fraseri) or the scarlet-tufted sunbird, is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Angola, Cameroon... -
Giant Sunbird Dreptes thomensis
Species AccountAn enormous, striking blue-black sunbird with a scythe-shaped beak, red-brown eyes, a white-tipped tail and yellow-buff flanks, making it unmistakable -
Giant Sunbird Dreptes thomensis
Species AccountThe giant sunbird (Dreptes thomensis) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is the only species in the genus Dreptes. -
Giant Sunbird Dreptes thomensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Golden-winged Sunbird Drepanorhynchus reichenowi
Species AccountA large dark sunbird with a long and deeply curved bill. Both sexes show a large yellow panel in the wing and yellow sides to the tail. -
Golden-winged Sunbird Drepanorhynchus reichenowi
Species AccountThe golden-winged sunbird (Drepanorhynchus reichenowi) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. -
Golden-winged Sunbird Drepanorhynchus reichenowi
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Green-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga nipalensis
Species AccountThe green-tailed sunbird (Aethopyga nipalensis) or Nepal yellow-backed sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It ranges across the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, stretching eastwards into parts of Southeast Asia. -
Green-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga nipalensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi
Species AccountTiny, drab warbler-like sunbird. The bill is slightly curved and partially pink. Also note the pale eye-ring. -
Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi
Species AccountThe little green sunbird (Anthreptes seimundi), also called Seimund's sunbird, is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. -
Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra
Species AccountThe Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra) is a species of long-billed nectar feeding bird in the Nectariniidae family found in the moist forests of South and Southeast Asia…. -
Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa
Species AccountThe malachite sunbird (Nectarinia famosa) is a small nectarivorous bird found from the highlands of Ethiopia southwards to South Africa. -
Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa
Species AccountBreeding male is unmistakable: bright green with a long tail... -
Newton's Sunbird Anabathmis newtonii
Species AccountA small sunbird with dark olive upperparts. Male has an iridescent green-purple throat and upper breast; female has a dull scaly olive throat and yellowish... -
Newton's Sunbird Anabathmis newtonii
Species AccountNewton's sunbird, or the São Tomé sunbird (Anabathmis newtonii) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to São Tomé Island. -
Newton's Sunbird Anabathmis newtonii
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis
Species AccountThe olive-backed sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis), also known as the yellow-bellied sunbird, is a species of sunbird found from Southern Asia to Australia. -
Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea
Species AccountThe male is a stunning sunbird with a fiery-orange belly and an iridescent purple breast band and green head -
Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea
Species AccountThe orange-breasted sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea) is a species of small, predominantly nectar-feeding bird that is endemic to the fynbos shrubland biome of southwestern South Africa. -
Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Palestine Sunbird Cinnyris oseus
Species AccountThe Palestine sunbird or northern orange-tufted sunbird (Cinnyris osea) is a small passerine bird of the sunbird family which is found in parts of the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. It is also known as orange-tufted sunbird, a name which is also used for the similar orange-tufted sunbird (Cinnyris bouvieri), found further south in Africa... -
Palestine Sunbird Cinnyris oseus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex
Species AccountA medium-large sunbird with a rather thick, slightly decurved bill. Extremely plain: pale olive-yellow above and paler washed-out yellow below. -
Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex
Species AccountThe plain sunbird (Anthreptes simplex) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. -
Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Purple-naped Spiderhunter Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Purple-naped Spiderhunter Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum
Species AccountThe purple-naped spiderhunter or purple-naped sunbird (Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae -
Purple-naped Spiderhunter Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum
Species AccountDark and mostly drab sunbirdlike inhabitant of tropical forests, plantations, and gardens. Iridescent purple nape and rump are diagnostic, but can easily be missed in the gloom of dense forest. -
Pygmy Sunbird Hedydipna platura
Species AccountA tiny-bodied sunbird in which breeding males are colorful and distinctive, and females and non-breeding males quite drab. -
Pygmy Sunbird Hedydipna platura
Species AccountThe pygmy sunbird (Hedydipna platura) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic... -
Pygmy Sunbird Hedydipna platura
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis
Species AccountTiny sunbird with a short sharp bill. Male's metallic green upperparts, wine-red cheeks, and bright orange throat and chest are unmistakable. -
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis
Species AccountThe ruby-cheeked sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis) is a species of sunbird in the family Nectariniidae -
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus
Species AccountA small sunbird. The male has a pale gray belly and relatively narrow red breast band. -
Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus
Species AccountThe southern double-collared sunbird or lesser double-collared sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus) is a small passerine bird which breeds in southern Africa. It is mainly resident, but partially migratory in the north-east of its range. -
Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna
Species AccountA large and noisy inhabitant of tropical and subtropical hill forests. -
Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna
Species AccountThe streaked spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. -
Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Whitehead's Spiderhunter Arachnothera juliae
Species AccountFull species account... -
Whitehead's Spiderhunter Arachnothera juliae
Species AccountThe Whitehead's spiderhunter (Arachnothera juliae) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. It is endemic to the island of Borneo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.It is named after the British explorer John Whitehead (1860-1899) who collected natural history specimens in Borneo and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.…