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| Beautiful Sunbird |
Beautiful Sunbird Habitat | Interesting Facts About Sunbird
Sunbirds are colorful birds and are very pleasant to look at. Sunbirds are mostly small in size and these birds can be seen bathing in water sources like ponds. Sunbirds are also very hardworking which makes them a lovely bird species.
The colors of the sunbird are mainly bright for the male bird while the female bird has dull feathers. Sunbirds look small, slender and have long downward bent beaks. These colorful birds also spend time grooming their feathers and bathing or basking in natural water sources.
Where Are Sunbird Found
Sunbirds are small and slender passerine birds and there are about 145 species of them in 16 different genera. Sunbirds can be mostly seen in the rainforests or savannas of Africa, Asia and Australia. Sunbird species are widely seen from West Asia to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Sunbirds are resident birds in most parts of their range and do not migrate large distances. Sunbirds are found in forest and garden lands including dense urban areas. But especially in the arid parts of northwestern India and Pakistan where sunbirds are said to arrive in large numbers before summer.
A sunbird's diet consists of flowers, small plants and fruit. Some species of sunbirds are insectivores that also prey on spiders or other small insects. Males of these colorful birds are known to perform a courtship display where the bird spreads its wings and flicks its tail to attract a mate.
The sunbird nest is built a few days before mating after which the sunbird lays 1 to 4 eggs. A female sunbird builds her nest from twigs, spider webs, paper and leaves. While the male bird protects his nest or territory. This nest is mostly built on plant or tree branches.
Scientific Name of Sunbird
Sunbirds belong to the Aves class and Nectariniidae family and their scientific name depends on the species with two examples being Cinnyris asiaticus and Cinnyris jugularis. Sunbirds are often confused with New World hummingbirds because of their appearance but these two types of birds are not the same.
Hummingbird species are found in America and hover to feed on sap from plants but some sunbirds suck sap while hovering and they mostly sit on tree branches.
Sunbird is a type of bird of the Old World bird family and is found in Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia. Sunbirds are known for building purse-shaped nests and this nest is mostly suspended in the air with the help of spider webs.
Habitat of Sunbird
Sunbird is a very adaptable bird species and this species can be found in forests as well as urban areas. Sunbirds can be seen in tropical rainforests, woodlands, savannas, alpine forests and coastal forests. Sunbirds also inhabit man-made habitats such as agricultural areas, plantations and gardens.
Sunbirds mostly live in pairs or very small groups but they can sometimes be seen alone. Sunbirds can be quite territorial during the breeding season and defend their nests with their mates. Read- Resplendent Quetzal Interesting Facts with Pictures
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How Sunbird Look Like
Sunbirds are small, slender birds and their beaks are long and slightly curved. The wings of the sunbirds are short and their tongues are tube-shaped to get the nectar of the flowers easily. Some groups of sunbird species also have long tail feathers.
The male sunbird has bright feathers while the female sunbird has dull feathers. The main colors of the sunbird include yellow, green, orange, blue and red and both the male and female of this sunbird species have brown feathers.
The male sunbird is bright blue to purplish black on the upper parts with dark brown looking feathers. The breeding male bird also has the same purplish black underparts and the non-breeding males have a central streak of black on the pale underparts.
What Do Sunbird Eat
Sunbirds feed on nectar from flowering plants and sunbirds may visit flowers belonging to more than 20 plant species including aloe, acacia and jacaranda. Some species of sunbirds are insectivorous and eat small insects or spiders. Male sunbirds are known to chase away any other birds that are feeding on sources such as flower nectar in their territories.
Also sunbirds have little or no sense of smell and rely solely on their acute eyesight to locate flowers. Sunbirds spend most of the day searching for plants especially forests and woods that may have more food opportunities.
The colorful sunbirds require a steady stream of energy intake to meet their needs. Experts say that sunbirds visit flowers of more than 20 different plants including acacia, aloe, jacaranda and lantana. Sunbirds feed mostly alone and sometimes in small groups. Male sunbirds chase intruders out of their territory.
Sunbird Size and Weight
Male sunbirds are larger than most females and the average size of a sunbird ranges between 4-10 inches. A large sunbird can be twice the size of a hummingbird and the weight of a sunbird falls in the range of about 5-45 grams.
Many species of sunbirds are brightly coloured and have a metallic sheen. Male sunbirds are more brightly coloured than most females. Sunbirds have small wings but their flight is fast and direct.
How Sunbirds Communicate
Sunbird species communicate using high-pitched sounds and songs. Sunbirds also communicate through behavioural changes and body language. For example the courtship dance that the male bird performs for his female is evidence of using body language to communicate.
How Fast Can A Sunbird Fly
The exact speed of a sunbird is not known. Also, only a few species of sunbirds migrate and travel only short distances. This is because sunbird species can find flowers or food sources in their natural habitats. Sunbirds will only migrate when heavy rains make food supplies difficult to find.
Sunbird Nests
Other sunbird species breed all year round and sunbirds are monogamous birds. Male sunbirds aggressively defend their breeding territory and nests against other birds. The few sunbird species that breed outside the equatorial regions are mostly seasonal breeders, with most species breeding during the wet season.
The nest is built by the female sunbird and they make purse-shaped nests from tree branches with a central entrance. Apart from this, a variety of fibres are used in the construction of the nest and the nest consists of bark, twigs, dry grass, leaves, vegetable down, plant stems, feathers and snake skin.
The nest is tightly bound with spider silk, especially at the entrance and where it is attached to a branch. In most species of sunbirds, the female builds the nest and up to 4 eggs are laid in the nest by the female bird. The female builds the nest although the male helps in raising the chicks. In addition both sexes help to incubate the eggs.
The young sunbird chicks may have yellow stripes on the underside and are fed exclusively on insects and spiders. At 14 to 18 days they gradually move away from the nest and the parents continue to feed the young for about two weeks. Sunbirds are in pairs or sometimes in small groups but some species occasionally gather in larger groups and sunbirds join with other birds to mob predators.
How Many Sunbird Are There In The World
The conservation status of most sunbird species is of least concern and they are welcome in many gardens and plantations. About 7 sunbird species are classified as threatened and the elegant sunbird is officially endangered. Overall the sunbird population trend is either stable or declining and it varies according to the individual species. Read- American Coot Facts and Information with Pictures
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How Long Do Sunbird Live
The lifespan of sunbirds is as variable as their species and the average lifespan of a sunbird is between seven and 22 years.
Sunbird Behavior
Sunbirds are harmless birds to humans and are very good pollinators. But sunbirds are considered pests in cocoa plantations because sunbirds can inadvertently spread parasites that stick to the feathers of these birds. Sunbirds need a constant stream of energy from their food intake. Because of this, sunbirds do not make good pets. In some areas where sunbirds are endangered it is illegal to keep them.
Sunbird Facts For Kids
1. What is special about sunbirds?
Male sunbirds are known to chase away any other birds that are feeding on sources such as nectar from flowers in their territories. Sunbirds have little or no sense of smell and rely entirely on the sunbird's keen eyesight to locate flowers.
2. How often do sunbirds lay eggs?
Sunbirds of other species breed throughout the year and in most species, the female builds the nest. Up to 4 eggs are laid in the nest by the female bird. The female sunbird builds the nest but the male bird helps in raising the chicks and both sexes help in incubating the eggs.
3. How do sunbirds build their nests?
Sunbird species build purse-shaped nests from tree branches with a central entrance and a variety of fibers are used in the construction of the nest. Nests are made from bark, twigs, dry grass, leaves, vegetable down, plant stems, feathers and snake skin.
4. What do sunbirds eat?
Sunbirds feed on nectar from flowering plants and may visit flowers belonging to more than 20 plant species, including aloe, acacia and jacaranda. Some species of sunbirds are insectivorous and eat small insects or spiders.
5. Where can you find sunbirds?
Sunbirds are small and slender passerine birds with about 145 species in 16 different genera. Sunbirds are found in the rainforests or savannas of Africa, Asia and Australia.
6. What are some interesting facts about sunbirds?
Sunbirds feed on flower nectar and sunbirds feed on orange and red tubular flowers which are important pollinators for these species. The sunbird dips its curved beak into the flower and then drinks the nectar using a long, tubular tongue. Apart from this, sunbirds also eat fruit, small insects and spiders.
7. What is the favorite food of a sunbird?
Like the hummingbirds and honeyeaters of Australia, sunbird species also feed on flowers and sunbirds share some physical similarities but they are not related.
8. What do Indian sunbirds eat?
The diet of a sunbird is based on nectar and occasionally sunbirds eat fruit, insects and spiders. Insects are also a basic source of food for young birds.
9. How long do sunbirds live
The lifespan of sunbirds is as variable as their species and the average lifespan of a sunbird is between seven and 22 years.
10. What is a sunbird nest made of?
The nest is built using bark, twigs, dry grass, leaves, vegetable down, plant stems, feathers and snake skin.