sunbird

noun

sun·​bird ˈsən-ˌbərd How to pronounce sunbird (audio)
: any of numerous small brilliantly colored oscine birds (family Nectariniidae) of the tropical Old World somewhat resembling hummingbirds

Examples of sunbird in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Canaries, located off the northwest coast of Africa, are a popular escape among sunbirds, thanks to the warm weather and plentiful sunshine. Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2025 Migratory sunbirds from the tropics are favorites among the more than 420 species that have been spotted on the island. D. Hunter Reardon, USA Today, 21 May 2025 Looking skyward, the southern reaches of Kenya also serve as a paradise for birdwatchers, with colorful animals like the malachite kingfisher, little bee-eater and Marico sunbird calling the region home. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025 Deep in the lowlands of South Asia, the forests are alive with fruit-eating barbets and nectar-sipping sunbirds. Byalice Sun, science.org, 25 Sep. 2024 On the landward side are women with parasols and schoolchildren coasting on bicycles alongside emerald green paddy fields that harbor a wealth of wetland birds: pond herons, darters, sunbirds. Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2024 Spot South Africa's national flower (the king protea), tiny colorful sunbirds, and even one of the mountain's caracals. Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2021 Some of Southeast Asia’s most majestic avifauna can be found soaring through the park— brahminy kites, barred eagle-owls, and rhinoceros hornbills, to name a few—while dazzling species like the Temminck's sunbird and lesser green leafbird can also be found flitting through the forest. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2022 These feeders attracts nectarivores, like the hummingbird, sunbird, and honeyeater. Kristen (kj) Callihan, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sunbird was in 1826

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Cite this Entry

“Sunbird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunbird. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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