A small bird (family Nectariniidae), often brightly coloured sometimes with iridescent plumage, often with a very long tail, and usually with a down-curved bill. Most sunbirds feed mainly on nectar, augmented with insects and spiders; some eat fruit. There are 15 genera of 132 species, found in Africa, Asia, the Philippines and other Pacific islands, and Australia. They are the Old World equivalent of the hummingbirds.