Eastern Spinebill

The Eastern Spinebill is a small, elegant honeyeater instantly recognizable by its long, thin, strongly downcurved bill, an adaptation for probing deep tubular flowers. Adults show a black head and grey-brown back, a rich chestnut patch on the throat bordered by white and black bands, and rufous washes on the flanks and undertail.

Unlike most honeyeaters, which cling to perches while feeding, the Eastern Spinebill regularly hovers in front of flowers in a manner reminiscent of a hummingbird, making it one of the most distinctive and appealing garden birds of southeastern Australia.

Key field marks

• Long, slender, strongly downcurved black bill
• Black head with a white throat crossed by a chestnut band and black necklace
• Grey-brown back, whitish underparts washed with rufous on the flanks
• Frequent hovering flight while feeding at flowers

Similar species

• Western Spinebill is very similar but found only in southwestern Western Australia, with no range overlap.
• No other eastern Australian honeyeater combines the long downcurved bill with the black, white, and chestnut throat pattern.

Habitat

Inhabits forests, woodlands, heathland, and shrubby understorey, and is a regular visitor to gardens with native flowering plants.

Range

Found along the east coast and ranges of Australia from southeastern Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to southeastern South Australia; also present in Tasmania.

Migration

Partly migratory and altitudinal, with some populations moving to lower elevations or northward in winter, tracking the availability of flowering plants.

Behavior

Active and often solitary or in pairs, defending flowering shrubs from rivals; noted for its hovering flight while probing flowers, a less common feeding style among honeyeaters.

Voice

A thin, high-pitched, rapid "peter-peter-peter" song and sharp, ticking call notes.

Feeding

Feeds primarily on nectar from tubular flowers such as correas, epacris, and grevilleas, supplemented with small insects gleaned from foliage.

Nesting

Builds a small, neat cup nest of bark strips and grass bound with spider web, low in a shrub; lays 2 pale pink eggs with reddish speckling.