Bird guideEastern Spinebill

A small bird with a long curved bill.

⚠️Not listed
🌿Endemic to Australia

At a glance

FamilyHoneyeaters
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatCoastal waters, beaches, estuaries, harbours, islands, and offshore waters depending on season.
Best timeReported across most months in New South Wales, with no narrow seasonal peak.

Sounds

Sound sample
0:000:00
Recorded by Romuald Mikusek

Range map

Range map

4049visible hotspots
308066visible records
4states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Adults have an obvious dark cap (black on males and gray on females) and mask with dark marks down the side of the chest. Note the white corners to the fanned tail that can be obvious in flight. Young birds are plain buff-colored underneath and plain brown above. Young birds could be confused with female Scarlet Myzomela (Scarlet Honeyeater), but note longer bill of spinebill.

Behavior

Eastern Spinebills are active and fast, darting around quickly between flowering trees in wetter forested areas as well as parks and gardens. Voice is a loud repetitive piping whistle.

Regional timing

Victoria
Peak: March to January103,956 records
New South Wales
Peak: January to December143,281 records
Tasmania
Peak: March to January16,666 records
Queensland
Peak: May to November24,270 records
South Australia
Peak: April to October9,159 records
Australian Capital Territory
Peak: March to August19,813 records
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