NECTAR-EATING BIRDS

Nectar provides a rich source of energy for many small birds. Though these birds must supplement their diet with other foods. Hummingbirds constitute the largest family of nectivores with approximately 350 species in the New World.

Bananaquit

feeding on common aloe (Aloe barbadensis) nectar from flower

Bananaquit      Coereba flaveola

Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Bonaire, Captain Don's Habitat

Beautiful Sunbird

at flower

Beautiful Sunbird      Cinnyris pulchellus

Black-and-red Myzomela

drinking nectar from flower

Black-and-red Myzomela      Myzomela rosenbergii

Papua New Guinea, Mt. Hagen Western Highlands

Black-bellied Hummingbird

Feeding on flower - Costus

Black-bellied Hummingbird      Eupherusa nigriventris

Black-chinned Hummingbird

feeding on Claret Cup Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus)

Black-chinned Hummingbird      Archilochus alexandri

USA; Texas, Hill Country, Uvalde Co.

Black-throated Flowerpiercer

feeding at Fuschia flowers

Black-throated Flowerpiercer      Diglossa brunneiventris

Broad-billed Hummingbird

feeding at cholla cactus flower

Broad-billed Hummingbird      Cynanthus latirostris

USA; Arizona, .

Broad-billed Hummingbird

feeding at Indian Paintbrush, Castilleja

Broad-billed Hummingbird      Cynanthus latirostris

USA; Arizona, Madera Canyon, Bog Springs Campground, Santa Rita Mts., Santa Cruz Co.

Broad-billed Hummingbird

at Mexican Cigar

Broad-billed Hummingbird      Cynanthus latirostris

USA; Louisiana, Thiboduax

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

feeding on columbine

Broad-tailed Hummingbird      Selasphorus platycercus

USA; Arizona, Paradise, Chiricahua Mts., Cochise Co.

Buff-tailed Sicklebill

feeding on Heliconia flower

Buff-tailed Sicklebill      Eutoxeres condamini

Ecuador; Morona-Santiago, 5 km SW Taisha

Costa's Hummingbird

feeding at Penstemon superbus, or "superb beardtongue" or "superb penstemon"

Costa's Hummingbird      Calypte costae

USA; Arizona, Catalina, Pima Co.

Eastern Olive Sunbird

feeding at Leonotis flowers

Eastern Olive Sunbird      Cyanomitra olivacea

Kenya, Chyulu Hills

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird

at flower

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird      Anthreptes orientalis

Giant Hummingbird

at agave flower

Giant Hummingbird      Patagona gigas

Ecuador, Near Quito, highlands of Ecuador

Hachisuka's Sunbird

feeding at flower

Hachisuka's Sunbird      Aethopyga primigenius

Philippines, Mindanao, Davao City, Baracatan, 1100 m.

Hooded Oriole

getting nectar from legume flower

Hooded Oriole      Icterus cucullatus

Mexico, Riviera Maya

Hunter's Sunbird

at flower

Hunter's Sunbird      Chalcomitra hunteri

Large Cactus-Finch

at cactus flower, Opuntia

Large Cactus-Finch      Geospiza conirostris

Galapagos, Genovesa Is. (Tower Is.)

Little Spiderhunter

foraging on banana flower

Little Spiderhunter      Arachnothera longirostra

Malaysia, Taman Negara National Park

Masked Flowerpiercer

piercing flower

Masked Flowerpiercer      Diglossa cyanea

Colombia, Manizales, Rio Blanco Ecological Reserve

Mountain Black-eye

feeding on nectar in bush with yellow flowers

Mountain Black-eye      Chlorocharis emiliae

Malaysia, Borneo, Sabah, Malaysia, Sabah, Kinabalu Park, Laban Rata 3,275 m.

Nepal Sunbird

feeding on flower

Nepal Sunbird      Aethopyga nipalensis

India, Eastern Himalayan hills

Orange-crowned Warbler

feeding on Oregon Grape flowers - Mahonia

Orange-crowned Warbler      Vermivora celata

Canada; British Columbia, Penticton

Purple-throated Sunbird

at flower

Purple-throated Sunbird      Leptocoma sperata

Indonesia, Ytanjung Putting NP Kalimantan, Borneo

Rainbow Starfrontlet

feeding a purple tubular flower

Rainbow Starfrontlet      Coeligena iris

Ecuador; Loja, Utuana 2,400 m.

Red-tailed Comet

feeding a purple tubular flower

Red-tailed Comet      Sappho sparganura

Red-throated Sunbird

at flower

Red-throated Sunbird      Anthreptes rhodolaema

Indonesia, Tanjung Putting NP, Kalimantan, Borneo

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

feeding at jewelweed, Imaptiens

Ruby-throated Hummingbird      Archilochus colubris

USA; Illinois, Chicago, Sand Ridge Nature Center

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

feeding at Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal flower

Ruby-throated Hummingbird      Archilochus colubris

Canada; Quebec, Quebec City

Slaty Flowerpiercer

piercing base of Datura flower

Slaty Flowerpiercer      Diglossa plumbea

Streaked Spiderhunter

nectaring on banana flower

Streaked Spiderhunter      Arachnothera magna

Thailand, Kaeng Krachan

Sword-billed Hummingbird

feeding at Datura flower

Sword-billed Hummingbird      Ensifera ensifera

Ecuador, Guango Lodge

Tennessee Warbler

feeding in flower

Tennessee Warbler      Vermivora peregrina

USA; Illinois, Chicago, Montrose Point

Velvet-purple Coronet

Feeding at a red flower

Velvet-purple Coronet      Boissonneaua jardini

Ecuador, Tandayapa Valley

Violet Sabrewing

flying and feeding at flower

Violet Sabrewing      Campylopterus hemileucurus

Costa Rica, Costa Rica

Violet-bellied Hummingbird

Violet-bellied Hummingbird      Damophila julie

Ecuador, Bueneventura Lodge in southwest Ecuador

Violet-tailed Sylph

Feeding at a red flower

Violet-tailed Sylph      Aglaiocercus coelestis

Ecuador, Mindo Loma Reserve

White-winged Dove

at cactus flower

White-winged Dove      Zenaida asiatica

USA; Arizona, Tucson, Pima Co.

White-winged Dove

Drinking nectar from Saguaro cactus blossom

White-winged Dove      Zenaida asiatica

USA; Arizona, Tucson Pima County

Woodpecker Finch

piercing flower

Woodpecker Finch      Camarhynchus pallidus

Galapagos, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Is. (Indefatigable Is.)