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Nectariniidae
太阳鸟科
tàiyáng-niǎo kē

太陽鳥科
tàiyáng-niǎo kē

タイヨウチョウ科
taiyō-chō ka

태양새과
taeyang-sae-gwa

Họ Hút mật

Тольт шувуухайнхан
tol't shuvuukhaiŋkhaŋ

(Mongolian family name based the Inner Mongolian name for the sunbirds.
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Inter-Country
■ Nectariniidae: CN
Nectariniidae: TW
Nectariniidae: VN
Nectariniidae: TH
Nectariniidae: MY-SG
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General

Information is from dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin reflects Mandarin pronunciation; for some dialect names, it is no more than a polite fiction. Korean glosses are tentative. Comments and corrections welcome. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.

This group of birds is found only in the far south of China, particularly in Yunnan. Naming is based on calques of foreign names. Sources do not list local popular names for any of these birds (if such exist).

1. The sunbirds are known literally as 太阳鸟 tàiyáng-niǎo 'sun-bird'. The name is based on the earliest Chinese ornithological name proposed in Chinese Birds of 1927 (35).

2. Chinese ornithologists later introduced the name 花蜜鸟 huā-mì-niǎo 'nectar bird' for the genus Nectarinia (now Cinnyrus and Kurochkinegramma). This is clearly based on the Latin name.

3. The spiderhunters (Arachnothera) are known as 捕蛛鸟 bǔ-zhū-niǎo 'spider-catching bird', a simplification of the original name given in Chinese Birds, which was the somewhat clumsy 捕蜘蛛鸟 bǔ-zhīzhu-niǎo 'spider-catching bird'.

Species names

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SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH
CHINESE
EAST
SOUTH
NORTH
Arachnothera
Latin
English
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Mongolian
Arachnothera longirostra
Arachnothera longirostris
link to photo
Little spiderhunter
White-throated spider hunter
长嘴捕蛛鸟
(長嘴捕蛛鳥)
cháng-zuǐ bǔ-zhū-niǎo
'long-billed spider-catching bird' (1, 2, 3, 4)
小捕蛛鸟
(小捕蛛鳥)
xiǎo bǔ-zhū-niǎo
'small spider-catching bird' (5)
  云南呢长嘴捕蜘蛛鸟
(雲南長嘴捕蜘蛛鳥)
yún-nán cháng-zuǐ bǔ zhīzhu niǎo
'Yunnanese long-billed spider-catching bird' (35)
ハシナガクモカリドリ
(嘴長蜘蛛狩り鳥)
hashi-naga kumo-kari-dori
'long-billed spider-hunting bird'
  Chim Bắp chuối mỏ dài
'long-billed banana-flower bird' (12, 34)
 
Arachnothera magna
link to photo
Streaked spiderhunter
Streaked spider hunter
纹背捕蛛鸟
(紋背捕蛛鳥)
wén-bèi bǔ-zhū-niǎo
'fine-pattern-backed spider-catching bird'
  大竖纹捕蜘蛛鸟
(大豎著紋捕蜘蛛鳥)
dà shù-wén bǔ zhīzhu niǎo
'large vertical-striped spider-catching bird' (35)
タテジマクモカリドリ
(竪縞蜘蛛狩り鳥)
tate-jima kumo-kari-dori
'vertical-striped spider-hunting bird'
  Chim Bắp chuối đốm đen
'black-spotted banana-flower bird' (12, 34)
 
Kurochkinegramma
Latin
English
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Mongolian
Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum
Hypogramma hypogrammicum
Nectarinia hypogrammica
link to photo
Purple-naped sunbird
Blue-naped sunbird
蓝枕花蜜鸟
(藍枕花蜜鳥)
lán-zhěn huā-mì-niǎo
'blue-naped nectar bird'
    ムナフタイヨウチョウ
(胸斑太陽鳥)
muna-fu taiyō-chō
'stripe-breasted sun-bird'
  Chim Hút mật bụng vạch
'line-bellied nectar-sucking bird' (12, 34)
 
Chalcoparia
Latin
English
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Mongolian
Chalcoparia singalensis
Anthreptes singalensis
Ruby-cheeked sunbird
Rubycheek
紫颊太阳鸟
(紫頰太陽鳥)
zǐ-jiá tàiyáng-niǎo
'purple-cheeked sun-bird' (2, 4)
紫颊直嘴太阳鸟
(紫頰直嘴太陽鳥)
zǐ-jiá zhí-zuǐ tàiyáng-niǎo
'purple-cheeked straight-billed sun-bird' (1, 3, 5)
    ホオアカコバシタイヨウチョウ
(頬赤小嘴太陽鳥)
hō-aka ko-bashi taiyō-chō
'red-cheeked small-billed sun-bird'
  Chim Hút mật bụng hung
'reddish-bellied nectar-sucking bird' (12)
 
Cinnyris
Latin
English
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Mongolian
Cinnyris asiatus
Nectarinia asiatica
link to photo
Purple sunbird 紫花蜜鸟
(紫花蜜鳥)
zǐ huā-mì-niǎo
'purple nectar bird' (2, 4, 5)
紫色花蜜鸟
(紫色花蜜鳥)
zǐ-sè huā-mì-niǎo
'purple-coloured nectar bird' (1, 3)
    ムラサキタイヨウチョウ
(紫太陽鳥)
murasaki taiyō-chō
'purple sun-bird'
  Nectarinia asiatica:
Chim Hút mật họng đen
'black-throated nectar-sucking bird' (12)
 
Cinnyris jugularis
Nectarinia jugularis
link to photo
Olive-backed sunbird
Yellow-bellied sunbird
黄腹花蜜鸟
(黃腹花蜜鳥)
huáng-fù huā-mì-niǎo
'yellow-bellied nectar bird'
    キバラタイヨウチョウ
(黄腹太陽鳥)
ki-bara taiyō-chō
'yellow-bellied sun-bird'
  Nectarinia jugularis (12, 13):
Chim Hút mật họng tím
'purple-throated nectar-sucking bird' (12, 13, 34)
 
Aethopyga
Latin
English
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Mongolian
Aethopyga ignicauda
link to photo
Fire-tailed sunbird 火尾太阳鸟
(火尾太陽鳥)
huǒ-wěi tàiyáng-niǎo
'fire-tailed sun-bird'
  火尾太阳鸟
(火尾太陽鳥)
huǒ-wěi tàiyáng-niǎo
'fire-tailed sun-bird' (35)
アカオタイヨウチョウ
(赤尾太陽鳥)
aka-o taiyō-chō
'red-tailed sun-bird'
     
Aethopyga saturata
link to photo
Black-throated sunbird
Black-breasted sunbird
黑胸太阳鸟
(黑胸太陽鳥)
hēi-xiōng tàiyáng-niǎo
'black-breasted sun-bird'
    スミレオタイヨウチョウ
(すみれ尾太陽鳥)
sumire-o taiyō-chō
'violet-tailed sun-bird'
  Chim Hút mật ngực đỏ
'red-breasted nectar-sucking bird' (12, 13, 34)
 
Aethopyga nipalensis
link to photo
Green-tailed sunbird
Green-throated sunbird
绿喉太阳鸟
(綠喉太陽鳥)
lǜ-hóu tàiyáng-niǎo
'green throated sun-bird'
  尼堡勒黄背太阳鸟
(尼堡勒黄背太陽鳥)
ní-bǎo-lè huáng-bèi tàiyáng-niǎo
'Nepalese yellow-backed sun-bird' (35)
ミドリオタイヨウチョウ
(緑尾太陽鳥)
midori-o taiyō-chō
'green-tailed sun-bird'
  Chim Hút mật Nê pan
'Nepalese nectar-sucking bird' (12)
 
Aethopyga gouldiae
link to photo
Mrs Gould's sunbird
Gould's sunbird
Blue-throated sunbird
蓝喉太阳鸟
(藍喉太陽鳥)
lán-hóu tàiyáng-niǎo
'blue-throated sun-bird'
  黄背太阳鸟
(黄背太陽鳥)
huáng-bèi tàiyáng-niǎo
'yellow-backed sun-bird' (35)
ルリオタイヨウチョウ
(瑠璃尾太陽鳥 ~ 琉璃尾太陽鳥)
ruri-o taiyō-chō
'lapis-lazuli tailed sun-bird'
  Chim Hút mật họng vàng
'yellow-throated nectar-sucking bird' (12, 13)
 
Aethopyga siparaja
link to photo
Crimson sunbird
Yellow-backed sunbird
Yellow-rumped sunbird
黄腰太阳鸟
(黃腰太陽鳥)
huáng-yāo tàiyáng-niǎo
'yellow-rumped sun-bird'
  黄背太阳鸟
(黄背太陽鳥)
huáng-bèi tàiyáng-niǎo
'yellow-backed sun-bird' (35)
キゴシタイヨウチョウ
(黄腰太陽鳥)
ki-goshi taiyō-chō
'yellow-rumped sun-bird'
  Chim Hút mật đỏ
'red nectar-sucking bird' (12, 34)
Inner M:
Дарам шар тольт шувуухай
ᠳᠠᠷᠠᠮ᠎ᠠ ᠰᠢᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠲᠣᠯᠢᠲᠣ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠣᠬᠠᠢ
daram shar tol't shuvuukhai
'yellow-spine pretty birdlet' (31)
Latin
English
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Mongolian
Aethopyga christinae
link to photo
Fork-tailed sunbird 叉尾太阳鸟
(叉尾太陽鳥)
chā-wěi tàiyáng-niǎo
'fork-tailed sun-bird'
(叉尾太阳鸟)
叉尾太陽鳥
chā-wěi tàiyáng-niǎo
'fork-tailed sun-bird'
燕尾太阳鸟
(燕尾太陽鳥)
yàn-wěi tàiyáng-niǎo
'swallow-tailed sun-bird' (35)
エンビタイヨウチョウ
(燕尾太陽鳥)
en-bi taiyō-chō
'swallow-tailed sun-bird'
  Chim Hút mật đuôi nhọn
'sharp-tailed nectar-sucking bird' (12, 13)
 

(31) gives Тольт шувуухай tol't shuvuukhai 'pretty birdlet' for the sunbirds. Ordinary dictionaries list Наран болжмор naraŋ boljmor 'sun sparrow', where Болжмор boljmor 'sparrow' is used as a general term for small birds in Inner Mongolia. In Mongolia Болжмор boljmor is used for the larks.

The term Шувуухай shuvuukhai here refers to a small bird. Шувуухай shuvuukhai is an old term used to refer to a number of generally exotic small species, including the sunbirds (Nectariniidae), the broadbills (Eurylaimidae), the bee-eaters (Meropidae), as well as the Light-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotidae), the Wren and the Treecreeper. In the traditional script there are two alternative spellings: sibaoqai and sibagoqai.

中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全(修订版) 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000

中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编:郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005

中国鸟类野外手册(中文版)约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯,合作者:荷芬奇,翻译:卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000

世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编:郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002

世界鸟类名称(拉丁文、汉文、英文对照)第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002

Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999

Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000

汉蒙名词术语分类词典(自然科学部分) Mongolian (Cyrillic): Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь (байгалийн шинжлэх ухааны бүлэг) (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary, natural sciences part) by 《汉蒙名词术语分类词典》编纂委员会 Mongolian (Cyrillic): "Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь" найруулах комисс (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary editorial committee), Inner Mongolian People's Press, Hohhot 1990

Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000

Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009

Chinese Birds (A Tentative List of Chinese Birds) 中國鳥類(中國鳥類目錄試編) N. Gist Gee, Lacy I. Moffett, G. D. Wilder (祁天錫, 慕維德, 萬卓志), Peiping, 1927 (reprinted 1948)