The dazzling insect- and nectar-eating sunbirds in Asia and Africa are among the most glamorous of all bird families. This comprehensive book is the first guide to all sunbirds and to three other closely related families: the spiderhunters and flowerpeckers of Asia and the sugarbirds of southern Africa. This guide provides a full account of each species, including a summary of identification criteria, differences between similar species, descriptions of calls and songs, habitat, status, movements, food, habits, and breeding biology. There are also detailed distribution maps and forty-eight beautiful color plates. The illustrations accurately portray both sexes of each species and all major plumage variations, and in many cases depict the 176 species on their typical food plants. Readers will be able to use this volume to identify any of these beautiful, often iridescent plumed birds and to gain insight into their ecology, behavior, and habits.

Illustrated by: Professor Richard Allen