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Spiderhunter
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{{Short description|Genus of birds}} {{Automatic taxobox | name = Spiderhunters | image = Little spiderhunter India.jpg | image_caption = [[Little spiderhunter]]<br/>''Arachnothera longirostra'' | taxon = Arachnothera | authority = [[Coenraad Jacob Temminck|Temminck]], 1826 | type_species = ''[[Yellow-eared spiderhunter|Nectarinia chrysogenys]]''<ref name=HM4>{{cite web |url= https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=187 |title= Nectariniidae |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= aviansystematics.org |publisher= The Trust for Avian Systematics |access-date= 2023-07-16}}</ref> | type_species_authority = Temminck, 1826 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }} The '''spiderhunters''' are birds of the [[genus]] '''''Arachnothera''''', part of the [[sunbird]] family [[Nectariniidae]]. The genus contains thirteen species found in the forests of south and southeastern Asia. They are large representatives of the sunbird family, with drab plumage and long strongly curved bills. They feed on both nectar and a range of small arthropods. ==Distribution and habitat== Unlike the rest of the family, which is more widespread, the spiderhunters are confined to the [[Oriental zoogeographic region]], occurring from [[India]] east to the [[Philippines]] and from the [[Himalayas]] south to [[Java]]; they reach their greatest species diversity in the [[Thai-Malay peninsula]], [[Sumatra]] and [[Borneo]].<ref name = "HBW">{{Cite book | first1 = Robert | last1 = Cheke | first2 = Clive | last2 = Mann | editor-last = Josep | editor-first = del Hoyo | editor2-last = Andrew | editor2-first = Elliott | editor3-last = David | editor3-first = Christie | contribution = Family Nectariniidae (Sunbirds) | title = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]]. Volume 13, Penduline-tits to Shrikes | year = 2008 | pages = 196β243 | place = Barcelona | publisher = Lynx Edicions | isbn = 978-84-96553-45-3 }}</ref> The spiderhunters are mostly forest birds, occupying a wide range of forest types including true rainforest, [[dipterocarp]] forest, swamp forest, bamboo forest, secondary forest, forest edge and other highly degraded forest. In addition several species occur in human-created habitat such as gardens or plantations. Most species are lowland species, but the [[Whitehead's spiderhunter]] is more of a montane species. ==Description== [[File:Arachnothera magna - Kaeng Krachan.jpg|thumb|A streaked spiderhunter about to feed on a banana palm inflorescence]] The spiderhunters are amongst the largest of their family, measuring between {{convert|13|and|22|cm|abbr=on}} in length. The [[spectacled spiderhunter]] is the heaviest of the sunbirds, weighing as much as {{convert|49|g|abbr=on}}. The [[beak|bills]] of the spiderhunters are long, at least twice the length of the head, and are decurved and stout. The tongue forms a complete tube for most of its length. The [[plumage]] is much drabber than the other brightly coloured sunbirds, is the same for both sexes, and contains no [[iridescence]]. The uppersides of most species are olive-green and the undersides dull white or yellow - in half the species the undersides are streaked. The most atypical spiderhunter plumage is that of the [[Whitehead's spiderhunter]], which is dark brown with white streaking on the undersides and back and a yellow rump.<ref name = "HBW"/> The [[bird vocalisation|calls]] of the spiderhunters are very simple, typically a metallic ''chip'' which is repeated multiple times to form the song. The song of the [[little spiderhunter]] is described as an "incessant squeaky whistle".<ref name = "HBW"/> ==Diet and feeding== [[File:Nectar robbing.jpg|thumb|This [[streaked spiderhunter]] has pierced the side of a closed hibiscus flower and is drinking the nectar without pollinating the flower - a tactic known as [[nectar robbing]].]] The spiderhunters are [[omnivorous]]. As their name suggests they will eat spiders, and are capable of extracting spiders from the centre of their [[spider web|webs]], a tricky task. They also consume a wide range of other small arthropod prey including crickets, caterpillars, butterflies, ants and other insects. In addition to animal prey they also consume [[nectar]] from flowers. Their tubular tongue is pushed against the top of the upper mandible of the bill, then pulled in and out, creating a pressure difference which allows the nectar to be sucked into the mouth.<ref name = "HBW"/> Spiderhunters may be important [[pollinator]]s of some species of plants, and species pollinated by spiderhunters have long tubular flowers.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Sakai|first=Shoko |author2=Kato, Makoto |author3=Tamiji Inoue|year=1999|title=Three pollination guilds and variation in floral characteristics of Bornean gingers (Zingiberaceae and Costaceae)|journal=American Journal of Botany|volume=86|pages=646β658|doi=10.2307/2656573|pmid=10330067|issue=5|jstor=2656573 }}</ref> They may also participate in [[nectar robbing]], which consists of inserting the bill into the side of the flower to extract nectar without being dabbed with pollen. Little is known about their territorial behaviour, but there have been reports of some species defending territories. The spiderhunters are less gregarious than other sunbirds, and are usually seen alone or as part of a pair.<ref name = "HBW"/> ==Breeding== The spiderhunters are thought to be [[monogamy in animals|monogamous]] like most of the rest of the family. They vary from the other sunbirds in the nature of their [[bird nest|nest]], which is suspended underneath a large leaf, usually a banana leaf but sometimes a palm frond or even a branch. The style of nest can be quite variable, a simple cup in the case of the [[streaked spiderhunter]], an elongated tube for the [[yellow-eared spiderhunter]] and a bottle shape for the [[long-billed spiderhunter]]. The nests are suspended from the leaf by using spider web or by pushing plant fibres through the leaf. The nests are made of grasses and leaves and lined with soft materials. Nest construction, as is typical of the family, is carried out by the female alone. Unlike the other sunbirds, however, both the male and female [[avian incubation|incubate]] the eggs. The spiderhunters lay two or three eggs. Their nests are sometimes [[brood parasite|parasitised]] by [[cuckoo]]s.<ref name ="HBW"/> ==Species== The genus contains 13 species:<ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | year=2019 | title=Dippers, leafbirds, flowerpeckers, sunbirds | work=World Bird List Version 9.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/dippers/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=30 January 2019 }}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Image !! Common Name !! Scientific name !! Distribution |- |[[File:SpiderhunterSabah.jpg|120px]] ||[[Little spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera longirostra'' || Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. |- | ||[[Orange-tufted spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera flammifera'' || Philippines. |- |[[File:PALE SPIDERHUNTER (cropped).jpg|120px]] ||[[Pale spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera dilutior'' || Palawan. |- | ||[[Thick-billed spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera crassirostris'' ||Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. |- | ||[[Long-billed spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera robusta'' || Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. |- |[[File:Spectacled-spiderhunter.jpg|120px]] ||[[Spectacled spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera flavigaster'' || Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. |- |[[File:Yellow-eared Spiderhunter (14080068385).jpg|120px]] ||[[Yellow-eared spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera chrysogenys'' ||Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. |- |[[File:Naked-faced spiderhunter.jpg|120px]] ||[[Naked-faced spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera clarae'' || Philippines. |- |[[File:Arachnothera modesta, Grey-breasted spiderhunter - Khao Sok National Park (21324789981).jpg|120px]] ||[[Grey-breasted spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera modesta'' ||Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. |- |[[File:Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter - Carita - West Java, Indonesia (cropped).jpg|120px]]||[[Streaky-breasted spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera affinis'' || Java and Bali |- | ||[[Bornean spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera everetti'' ||Borneo. |- |[[File:Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna) - Flickr - Lip Kee.jpg|120px]] ||[[Streaked spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera magna'' ||Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. |- |[[File:Arachnothera juliae 102416853 (cropped).jpg|120px]] ||[[Whitehead's spiderhunter]] ||''Arachnothera juliae'' ||Borneo |- |} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/sunbirds-nectariniidae Spiderhunter videos] on the Internet Bird Collection {{Taxonbar|from=Q774692}} [[Category:Arachnothera| ]] [[Category:Birds of Asia]] [[Category:Taxa named by Coenraad Jacob Temminck]]
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