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Eastern SpinebillAlternate name(s): "Spine-billed Honeyeater", "Cobbler's Awl"; Misnomer: "Hummingbird" Size: 14-16 cm Weight: 8-16 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race"tenuirostris"
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ADULT |
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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; note the black cap
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]
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 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
(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
(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]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Eastern Spinebill; note the grey cap
[Dorrigo, NSW, November 2006]
Near-lateral view of a preening wet female(?) Eastern Spinebill
(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 feeding in a
garden
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Coonabarabran, NSW, December 2013]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Eastern Spinebill
[Girraween NP,
QLD, January 2017]
Near-frontal view of a juvenile Eastern Spinebill
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Westgate Park, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]
Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Eastern Spinebill
[Girraween NP,
QLD, January 2017]
Lateral view of a juvenile Eastern Spinebill
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Cassilis, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]
Race"cairnsensis"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Lateral view of a male Eastern Spinebill
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Wondecla, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, July 2020]
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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"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Near-lateral view of a (probably male) Eastern Spinebill
(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]
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FEMALE |
Lateral view of a (probably female) Eastern Spinebill
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]
Race"dubius"
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ADULT |
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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]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: ? | Mobility: Dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair |
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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]
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]
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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_me_20200927.m4a |
cairnsensis (N QLD) |
? | © ME | |
easspin_me_20200927_2.m4a |
cairnsensis (N QLD) |
? | © ME |
More Eastern Spinebill sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.