Eastern Spinebill

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

I’m pretty sure this is an Eastern Spinebill, it was sitting in the Macadamia tree in the front yard. I’d not head of this bird before and can’t say I remember ever seeing them around. The Eastern Spinebill is a small bird, about 13cm – 16cm, it can be recognized by it’s long fine down curved beak. The bird in the photo is a female, males have more distinctive and defined colourings of black, white and tan across their body. They are found on much of the east and southeast coast of Australia and also throughout Tasmania.

Eastern Spinebill sitting in the Macadamia tree

Now I know what these guys look like they’ll probably be popping up all over the place.

Resources and references

• Atlas of Living Australia
• Wikipedia
• Birds in Backyards

• Acanthorhynchus Tenuirostris
• Bird
• Eastern Spinebill
• Native
• Yard