Eastern Spinebill

This small, active honeyeater is well represented in our district. Whilst the Eastern Spinebill is easy enough to see year-round in Gippsland, some of ‘our’ birds will spend summer in the high country and return to the warmer climes of the lowlands in winter. It is not unusual, and always a delight to have them visit our urban gardens.

Eastern Spinebills use their long curving bill for probing the tubular flowers of Common Heath, Kangaroo Paw, Correa, Appleberry, Mistletoe and similar species. Invariably, the birds get pollen attached to their feathers as they feed and this is transferred to the next flower, thus helping the pollination of the bush or garden. The adults feed largely on nectar but also take insects and spiders at times. The young are fed mostly insects for protein.

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris; acantha = spine, rhunkos = bill, tenuis = slender, and rostrum = bill.

Eastern Spinebills, like many honeyeaters, are active and sometimes aggressive feeders. Mostly they move through their patch in small family groups and often can be seen foraging with other small species. Their rapidly repeated piping call is diagnostic.