sun-bird

A sun-bird sips nectar from a bright red flower.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, brightly colored bird: "sun-bird" refers to any of numerous small, often brilliantly colored birds of the family Nectariniidae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia. They are known for their long, slender bills and for feeding on nectar.

Usage Examples

• (A small, nectar-feeding bird moving among blossoms.)
• (A brightly colored bird observed in a natural setting.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a sun-bird": (figurative, rare) to be lively, colorful, or constantly moving, like the bird.
  • She darted around the party like a sun-bird, chatting with everyone. (She moved energetically and cheerfully.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sunbird (n): an alternative spelling of "sun-bird," used interchangeably.
  • The sunbird's feathers shimmer in the sunlight. (The bird's plumage is iridescent.)
• Sun-bird's nest (n): the nest of a sun-bird, often a hanging pouch.
  • We found a sun-bird's nest suspended from a thin branch. (The nest is characteristic of the species.)

Synonyms

• Nectariniid: a technical term for a bird of the Nectariniidae family.
• Honeyeater: a similar nectar-feeding bird, though often from a different family (Meliphagidae), found in Australasia.

Related Idioms

• No direct idioms exist for "sun-bird" in common English usage. The term is primarily ornithological.