Nectariniidae

(sunbirds and spiderhunters), a family of birds of the order Passeriformes. The body length is 9–25 cm. The slender bill is often curved and usually has slightly dentate margins. The males are brightly colored; part of their plumage has a metallic sheen. The females are greenish gray. The males and females of some species have the same dark coloration. There are 116 species of the Nectariniidae, distributed in Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. They are found in forests and orchards, among shrubbery, and in the mountains at elevations up to 4,200 m. The birds nest on the ends of tree branches or, less frequently, on shrubs. There are two or, rarely, three eggs in a clutch. The birds feed on spiders and insects, as well as on nectar, which they consume by perching on a flower or twig or, sometimes, in flight like hummingbirds. They may make seasonal migrations associated with mass blossoming of plants. The birds help pollinate plants.