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Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) Alternate name(s): "Spine-billed Honeyeater", "Cobbler's Awl"; MISNOMER: "Hummingbird" Size: 14-16 cm Body mass: 8-16 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Eastern Spinebills are very small nectar-eating birds. The top of the head, down to under the eyes, is black. The throat and chest are white, except for a rufous patch with a black bow under it below the throat. By the side of the chest Eastern Spinebills have two black crescents. Belly and vent are rufous. The nape of the neck is deep-rufous, the back is grey-brown, with dark-grey flight feathers. There are small variations in the colouring of the body plumage of the different races and the sexes. Females tend to have duller colours than males; e.g. their crown is dark-grey, rather than the males' black. The irises of both sexes are red. The very long, slender, slightly down-curved bill is black. The legs and feet are grey. Juveniles have much duller colours, with much less colour contrast, dominated by cinnamon hues on the front. The base of the lower mandible is orange.

Taxonomy, classification See Eastern Spinebill at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Eastern Spinebill is available HERE . Eastern Spinebills are endemic to Australia. The four races of Eastern Spinebills are found along the South and East coast of the Australian continent. The range of nominate race "tenuirostris" extends from the south-eastern corner of SA, via most of VIC, along the NSW coast and Great Dividing Range, into southern QLD. They are found on the coastline only up to Hervey Bay, but their range continues in the tablelands, up to about the tropic of Capricorn, i.e. the hinterland of Rockhampton, QLD. In the tablelands further to the North, from about Mackay to Atherton, QLD, race "cairnsensis" is found. Race "dubius" exists only in Tasmania and the small islands along Bass Strait, while race "halmaturinus" is found around Adelaide, SA, and on Kangaroo Island. Eastern Spinebills are usually found in low, dense growth, e.g. in forest with dense undergrowth, in shrubs or heath. They can be found at high altitude (seen by us at 1300 m). They adapt to the presence of humans quite well and are also found in dense growth in gardens (where they like e.g. the flowers of fuchsia plants). Where to look? How to find this species? While feeding in eucalypts, honeyeaters often stay high up in the crowns of trees and are therefore hard to spot. But many species, including Eastern Spinebills, will also visit lower plants to feed on nectar in gardens, such as e.g. Eremophila, Banksia, Grevillea or Callistemon. There they are much easier to spot.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "tenuirostris" Eastern Spinebills, race "tenuirostris", were first spotted by us in the area of Dorrigo, northern NSW, in November 2006. They were also seen in October 2007 in Bald Rock NP, NSW, and in the adjacent Girraween NP, QLD, on various occasions. They can also be found on the Western Slopes of the Great Dividing Range, where they were first seen by us at Mt. Kaputar NP, about 40 km North-East of Narrabri, NSW, in March 2007. In March 2009 spotted in Deriah Aboriginal Area, 30 km East of Narrabri, in the foothills of the Nandewar Range. In April 2011 found near the Governor, Mt. Kaputar NP, 40 km East of Narrabri, NSW, at an altitude of at least 1300 m. In June 2018 we found an Eastern Spinebill, race "tenuirostris", in the township of Narrabri, NSW. In April 2026 we found the species at Tamworth, NSW. Eastern Spinebills, race "tenuirostris", were spotted also in Coolah Tops NP, 30 km East of Coolah, NSW, in May 2009. This location is near the western edge of their range. Subsequently Eastern Spinebills, race "tenuirostris", were spotted by us in various locations along the NSW Central Coast, e.g. in woodland 5 km East of Morisset, NSW. I. Duncan reports spotting Eastern Spinebills, race "tenuirostris", at Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, in July 2012. Other contributors also report their presence in and around Melbourne, VIC. R. Plumtree reports finding Eastern Spinebills, race "tenuirostris", frequently near Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC. J. Greaves reports spotting Eastern Spinebills, race "tenuirostris", at O'Reilly's Plateau, Lamington NP, Gold Coast, QLD, in October 2015. M. Mearns reports spotting Eastern Spinebills, race "tenuirostris", at Bunya Mountains NP, QLD, in December 2015. This location is near the western edge of their range. M. Eaton reports finding Eastern Spinebills, race "tenuirostris", at Queen Mary Falls, near Killarney, QLD, in July 2019. R. Plumtree finds Eastern Spinebills, race "tenuirostris", occasionally in the area of Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC. Race "cairnsensis" M. Eaton found an Eastern Spinebill, race "cairnsensis", at Paluma Rainforest, near Townsville, QLD, in September 2020. Race "halmaturinus" J. Greaves reports spotting Eastern Spinebills, race "halmaturinus", at Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016. Race "dubius" M. Eaton spotted an Eastern Spinebill, race "dubius", at Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, in September 2021. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours found an Eastern Spinebill, race "dubius", at Wondecla, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, in July 2020.

Photos

Race"tenuirostris"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Male Eastern Spinebills, left, have a black cap; females have a dark-grey, lightly scalloped cap.

MALE

Frontal view of a male Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Cassilis, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]

Frontal view of a male Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Mary Falls, near Killarney, QLD, July 2019]

Frontal view of a male Eastern Spinebill; note the black cap (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

Near-frontal view of a male Eastern Spinebill issuing its call (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Cassilis, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a male Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Westgate Park, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]

Near-lateral view of a male Eastern Spinebill looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Mary Falls, near Killarney, QLD, July 2019]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Westgate Park, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]

Lateral view of a male Eastern Spinebill looking back over its shoulder (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Fainting Range Road, Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2014]

Dorsal view of a male Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Eastern Spinebill looking sideways; note the grey cap
[Dorrigo, NSW, November 2006]

Lateral view of a preening wet female(?) Eastern Spinebill looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[O'Reilly's Plateau, Lamington NP, QLD, January 2020]

Lateral view of a female Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Maleny, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral view of a female Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Mary Falls, near Killarney, QLD, July 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a female Eastern Spinebill looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Coonabarabran, NSW, December 2013]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up frontal view of a juvenile Eastern Spinebill
[Girraween NP, QLD, January 2017]

Near-frontal view of a wet juvenile Eastern Spinebill shaking out its plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Westgate Park, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]

Lateral view of a juvenile Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Cassilis, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Eastern Spinebill
[Girraween NP, QLD, January 2017]

Race"cairnsensis"

ADULT

MALE

Lateral view of a male Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Wondecla, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, July 2020]

FEMALE

Near-lateral view of a preening (probably female) Eastern Spinebill with pollen all over its forehead
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Paluma Rainforest, near Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Race"halmaturinus"

ADULT

MALE

Near-lateral view of a (probably male) Eastern Spinebill looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Near-lateral view of a (probably male) Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Lateral view of a (probably male) Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Lateral view of a (probably male) Eastern Spinebill, different posture (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a (probably female) Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Race"dubius"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Near-lateral view of a male Eastern Spinebill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Near-lateral view of a female(?) Eastern Spinebill just out of the bathtub
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2026]

Food, Diet

Eastern Spinebills specialise on nectar from trumpet-shaped flowers, to which their long, curved bills are adapted.

Male Eastern Spinebill using its sticky tongue to take nectar from a flower (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Maleny, QLD, August 2019]

Male Eastern Spinebill taking nectar from a Callistemon shrub (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Mary Falls, near Killarney, QLD, July 2019]

Ventral view of an Eastern Spinebill feeding on the nectar of a mistletoe
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2009]

Eastern Spinebill taking nectar from a flowering casuarina
[Near Maules Creek, NSW, May 2013]

Male Eastern Spinebill taking nectar from a Pawpaw plant (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

Eastern Spinebills are one of the bird species that can feed while hovering; here seen taking nectar from a grevillea flower (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

Two different views of an Eastern Spinebill with pollen sticking to its bill (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, July 2012]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

easspin_20180131.m4a	tenuirostris (NW NSW)	Contact calls?	© MD
easspin_20210902_2.m4a	tenuirostris (NW NSW)	Contact calls? (Q&A)	© MD
easspin_20160720.m4a	tenuirostris (NW NSW)	Territorial calls? (male)	© MD
easspin_20170810.m4a	tenuirostris (NW NSW)	Territorial calls?	© MD
easspin_20190710.m4a	tenuirostris (NW NSW)	Territorial call?	© MD
easspin_20210902.m4a	tenuirostris (NW NSW)	?	© MD
easspin_20260420.m4a	tenuirostris (NW NSW)	?	© MD
easspin_20260420_2.m4a	tenuirostris (NW NSW)	?	© MD
easspin_me_20200927.m4a	cairnsensis (N QLD)	?	© ME
easspin_me_20200927_2.m4a	cairnsensis (N QLD)	?	© ME

We have also recorded the wing beat of an Eastern Spinebill.

easspin_20260420_3.m4a

tenuirostris (NW NSW)

Diving into tree

© MD

More Eastern Spinebill sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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