The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birdswhich feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects,especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their shortwings.
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 evolutiondue to the similar nectar-feeding lifestyle. Most sunbird species cantake 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 probablyarose. Most species are sedentary or short-distance seasonal migrants.
Like the hummingbirds, they are strongly sexually dimorphic, withthe males usually brilliantly plumaged in metallic colours. Sunbirdshave long thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, bothadaptations to their nectar feeding. Up to three eggs are laid in apurse-shaped suspended nest.