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Sunbirds

Sunbirds and spiderhunters, part of the family Nectariniidae, are vibrant Old World passerines predominantly found in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Australia and New Guinea, with the highest diversity near the equator. These small, slender birds typically have curved bills suited for nectar-feeding, often exhibit iridescent plumage in males, and sometimes possess elongated tail feathers. They number 145 species across 16 genera and are known for their fast, direct flight, also feeding on insects and spiders, vital for their chicks. Sunbirds can hover like hummingbirds to feed on nectar, but usually prefer perching. They share ecological niches with distant relatives such as hummingbirds in the Americas and honeyeaters in Australia, showcasing convergent evolution. Some species enter nightly torpor in colder climates to conserve energy. Their nesting habits, including suspended purse-shaped constructions made from spiderwebs, vary among species and locations. These birds actively pollinate African flowers through nectar feeding, and while they're generally resilient to habitat changes and not threatened by the pet trade, some species do experience negative impacts from human activities, such as agricultural development. The family has mostly managed to thrive despite environmental changes.

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Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
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What Our Birders Say
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
778
Great bird recording
For a while I’ve been trying to find an app to easily record bird lists and day out and struggled to find one that I like. Birda is great for this, straightforward and a great community!
Alex J
Friendly and helps to identify birds
Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
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