Eastern Spinebill
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
The Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) is a common honeyeater found only in Australia, weighing about 10 g. The eastern spinebill is a species of honeyeater found in south-eastern Australia in forest and woodland areas, as well as gardens in urban areas of Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart.
About the Eastern Spinebill
The eastern spinebill is a species of honeyeater found in south-eastern Australia in forest and woodland areas, as well as gardens in urban areas of Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart. It is around 15 cm long, and has a distinctive black, white and chestnut plumage, a red eye, and a long downcurved bill.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The male eastern spinebill is 13–16 cm (5–6.5 in) long, and has a long thin downcurved black bill with a black head, white throat with a chestnut patch and red iris. It has a brownish-red nape, a grey-brown back and pale cinnamon underparts. The dark tail is tipped with white laterally. Females are smaller with olive-grey crown, similar in colouring to male but slightly duller; and juveniles are pale warm cinnamon below with grey to olive-brown upperparts, a brown-red eye and orange base to the bill.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Eastern Spinebill can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Eastern Spinebill?
- The male eastern spinebill is 13–16 cm (5–6.5 in) long, and has a long thin downcurved black bill with a black head, white throat with a chestnut patch and red iris. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Eastern Spinebill?
- The Eastern Spinebill is a tiny sized bird weighing about 10 g.
- Where can you see an Eastern Spinebill?
- The Eastern Spinebill is endemic to Australia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to an Eastern Spinebill?
- The Eastern Spinebill is most easily confused with the Western Spinebill.
- Is the Eastern Spinebill endangered?
- The Eastern Spinebill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Eastern Spinebill for real
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