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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Meliphagidae
  4. ›
  5. Acanthorhynchus
  6. ›
  7. Eastern Spinebill
Eastern Spinebill
Photo · (c) Sockrosma, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Eastern Spinebill

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris(Latham, 1801)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Meliphagidae
Genus
Acanthorhynchus

At a glance

The Eastern Spinebill is a small bird, about 13–16 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
13–16 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does an Eastern Spinebill look like?

The Eastern Spinebill is a small bird, about 13–16 cm long and weighing 6–18 g.

The eastern spinebill is a species of honeyeater found in south-eastern Australia in forest and woodland areas, as well as gardens in urban areas of Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart. It is around 15 cm long, and has a distinctive black, white and chestnut plumage, a red eye, and a long downcurved bill.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
13–16 cm
Weight
6–18 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see an Eastern Spinebill?

The Eastern Spinebill is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Roger Yandle · Mayne St before Short St, North Rothbury NSW 2335, Australia

Call

John Cull · Mount Dandenong VIC 3767, Australia

Call

Lisa D. · Nillumbik Bal, AU-VI, AU

Call

Maria Duynisveld · Hobart, AU-TS, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does an Eastern Spinebill eat?

The Eastern Spinebill feeds on nectar/pollen and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Eastern Spinebill live in Australia?

The Eastern Spinebill is endemic to Australia, recorded across 46 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning east and south-east Australia and Tasmania.

BreedingEast and south-east Australia and Tasmania

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant
  • Breeding

8 regions recorded