Eastern Spinebill

1. Long, slender, downward-curved black bill

2. Black cap (male) or olive-grey cap (female), with white throat and central rufous patch

3. White corners on the tail visible in flight

Eastern Spinebills primarily feed on nectar using their specialized bills, but they also consume insects, especially when feeding young. Their foraging often involves hovering briefly at flowers, similar to hummingbirds, though they mostly feed while perched. The breeding season runs from August to January. Females build a small, deep cup-shaped nest in a forked branch, usually 1–5 meters above ground, using grass, bark, and spider web. Clutch size is typically two eggs, though up to four are possible. Only the female incubates the eggs for about 14 days, but both parents feed the chicks after hatching. Juveniles are fed mainly insects. Eastern Spinebills may move to lower elevations during winter and can be seen singly, in pairs, or occasionally in small groups.

Eastern Spinebills are found along the eastern and southeastern regions of Australia, from North Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, southeastern South Australia, and Tasmania. They inhabit a variety of environments, including eucalypt forests, heathlands, woodlands with dense undergrowth, and coastal shrublands. The species is also common in urban parks and gardens with abundant flowering native plants. They are most active at dawn and early morning, often detected by their high-pitched, repetitive piping calls and their quick, darting movements between flowers.