List of sunbirds

Nectariniidae is a family of passerine birds in the superfamily Passeroidea, comprising the sunbirds and spiderhunters.[1] Members of Nectariniidae are also known as nectariniids.[2] Their range extends from the Afrotropics north to the Levant and southern Arabian Peninsula, and east through South and Southeast Asia up to New Guinea and northern Australia.[3] They inhabit a wide variety of habitats, from arid savannah to tropical rainforests, and can be found from sea level to an altitude of 4,900 m (16,100 ft). Sunbirds are generally small birds with long, thin, down-curved bills and brightly coloured, iridescent plumages.[2] They display marked sexual dimorphism, and males are much more visually striking than females, who are usually dull green, brown, or grey. The spiderhunters (Arachnothera) are larger than other sunbirds and show less sexual dimorphism.[3]

Clockwise from top left: ruby-cheeked sunbird, collared sunbird, Loten's sunbird, little spiderhunter, fire-tailed sunbird, and malachite sunbird

The primary threat facing sunbirds is habitat loss and degradation caused by deforestation due to agriculture.[2] Most species of sunbird are considered to be of Least Concern by the IUCN, although three species, the Amani sunbird, Loveridge's sunbird, and the elegant sunbird, are Endangered, and several others are considered Near Threatened or Vulnerable.

The exact delineation of sunbird species is somewhat contested and varies from authority to authority: the International Ornithologists' Union (IOU) recognizes 146 species of sunbirds in 16 genera,[1] while other authorities recognise 143–147 species.[4][5] The largest genera are Cinnyris and Aethopyga, with 53 and 23 species, respectively.[1] Recent phylogenetic studies indicate that several widespread species such as the olive-backed and black sunbirds may represent complexes of multiple cryptic species.[6] Several undescribed species of sunbird may also exist in Sierra Leone and Djibouti.[3]