Hummingbirds are native to the Americas and comprise the biological family Trochilidae. Sunbirds and Spiderhunters make up the family Nectariniidae of passerine birds. The Apodidae, or Swifts, form a family of highly aerial birds.
Hummingbirds are found from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. There are approximately 375 species, most species are found in Central and South America. Hummingbirds have varied specialized characteristics to enable rapid, maneuverable flight: exceptional metabolic capacity, adaptations to high altitude, sensitive visual and communication abilities, and long-distance migration in some species. Among all birds, male Hummingbirds have the widest diversity of plumage color, particularly in blues, greens, and purples. The smallest is the 5 cm (2.0 in) Bee Hummingbird, and the largest is the Giant Hummingbird, Noted for long beaks, Hummingbirds are specialized for feeding on flower nectar, but all species also consume small insects.
Sunbirds are small, slender passerines, usually with downward-curved bills. Many are brightly coloured, often with iridescent feathers, particularly in the males. Many species also have especially long tail feathers.
Swifts are superficially similar to Swallows but are not closely related to any passerine species. Swifts are placed in the order Apodiformes along with Hummingbirds.
