Sunbirds are sometimes called 'the hummingbirds of the Old World' - though they are not actually related to American hummingbirds. They have just evolved a similar way of life: drink sweet flower nectar with a long curved beak, beat their wings very fast, and hover in mid-air to feed.
The male is the showy one. Out of the sun he looks almost black, but as soon as the light hits him, his feathers glow purple and emerald green. The female is plainer - a soft greyish-yellow - which helps her blend in while sitting on the nest.
Their nest is one of the smallest a bird makes. It is a tiny purse hanging from the end of a thin twig, woven from spider's web, plant fluff and small leaves. Inside, two tiny eggs - the size of a pea - sit safely. Spider web is the perfect building material because it stretches as the chicks grow.
Palestine sunbirds love city gardens. They are often the most colourful thing in a busy Beirut courtyard, zipping from one hibiscus flower to the next. If you stand very still by a flowering bush, one may hover right in front of you for a few seconds before darting off.