What Insects Do Sunbirds Eat?

Sunbirds are small Old World passerine birds that feed primarily on nectar and insects. They prefer to perch rather than hover like hummingbirds, and probe a wide range of plants for nectar. They are active during the day, which is known as diurnal behavior, spending most of their day flitting about in search of food. Sunbirds are omnivorous, feeding primarily on nectar and insects.

Up to fledging, a sunbird chick is fed almost exclusively on insects, including spiders and stingless bees. Sunbirds are important for the pollination of many flowers, especially tubular-shaped ones. They feed on nectar by drawing it up in a capillary action, with the bill having fine serrations on the edge to aid them in catching and keeping hold of insects.

There are 151 species in 16 genera, with most sunbirds feeding largely on nectar, but they will also catch insects and spiders, especially when feeding their young. They eat from orange and red tubular flowers and are important pollinators for these species. Sunbirds have long tongues and can hover like hummingbirds to feed on nectar, but usually prefer perching. They share ecological niches with distant relatives such as hummingbirds.

Insects include mealworms and cut-up crickets, and they may take a little bit of finely powdered food. Sunbirds also consume fruit, spiders, and little insects. They rest on flower stalks, and they can hover like hummingbirds to feed on nectar, but usually prefer perching. Sunbirds have long tongues and share ecological niches with distant relatives such as hummingbirds.