''Nectarinia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of birds in the sunbird

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Nectariniidae Sunbirds and spiderhunters make up the family Nectariniidae of passerine birds. They are small, slender passerines from the Old World, usually with downward-curved bills. Many are brightly coloured, often with iridescent feathers, particularly ...

. What

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

belong to it has been highly contentious for many decades. Towards the late 20th century, the dominant trend was to use it to group all "typical" sunbirds. More recently taxonomists have divided the Nectarinia into eight genera which are now considered distinct from Nectarinia: ''

Leptocoma ''Leptocoma'' is a genus of sunbirds found from tropical South Asia to Papua New Guinea. Its members are sometimes included in '' Nectarinia''. The sunbirds are a group of very small Old World passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, altho ...

, Anabathmis,

Chalcomitra ''Chalcomitra'' is a genus of African sunbirds. Its members are sometimes included in ''Nectarinia''. The sunbirds are a group of very small Old World passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially ...

Cinnyris ''Cinnyris'' is a genus of sunbirds. Its members are sometimes included in '' Nectarinia''. They are generally known as double-collared sunbirds because the fringe of their bib usually includes a band of contrastingly coloured feathers. The sun ...

, Cyanomitra, Dreptes, Anthobaphes,'' and Drepanorhynchus.

Species

The genus now contains six species:

References

Bird genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Nectariniidae-stub