Photo: Benjamint444 / GFDL 1.2 (Wikimedia Commons)
Eastern Spinebill
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) is a member of the Meliphagidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 10.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Meliphagidae Honeyeaters
- Genus Acanthorhynchus
- Species tenuirostris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.4 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eastern Spinebill is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Eastern Spinebill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU e, se Australia and Tasmania.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.4 g, with a wing length of about 6.6 cm and a tail of around 5.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 764,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eastern Spinebill?
The Eastern Spinebill is a very small bird that weighs around 10.4 g.
Where does the Eastern Spinebill live?
The Eastern Spinebill is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU e, se Australia and Tasmania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Eastern Spinebill belong to?
The Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) belongs to the Meliphagidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Eastern Spinebill eat?
The Eastern Spinebill is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Eastern Spinebill migrate?
The Eastern Spinebill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Eastern Spinebill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Eastern Spinebill make?
1 real field recording of the Eastern Spinebill — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Eastern Spinebill's range?
The Eastern Spinebill has a mapped global range of about 764,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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