Western Spinebill

1. Males show a bold black facial mask with a white eyebrow and chestnut throat.

2. Long, slender, downward-curved black bill.

3. White outer tail feathers flash during flight.

Western Spinebills feed mainly on nectar from a variety of native plants, including banksias, grevilleas, and eucalypts, but also take insects and occasionally fruit. They are locally nomadic, moving in response to flowering cycles. Breeding occurs mainly from September to January. The female builds a small cup-shaped nest from bark, grass, plant stems, and spider web, usually placed 1–5 meters above ground in dense shrubs or trees. 1–2 eggs are laid which are incubated primarily by the female, although the male may occasionally assist. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after about 15 days, and continue to care for them after they leave the nest. The species is sometimes parasitised by the Pallid Cuckoo.

Western Spinebills are endemic to southwestern Western Australia, ranging from north of Jurien Bay to Israelite Bay and inland to areas like Moora, Corrigin, and Lake Grace. They are common in the understorey of heathlands, coastal scrub, woodlands, forests, and especially in banksia thickets. These birds are often seen darting between flowering shrubs and trees at various heights, particularly during the morning and late afternoon when they are most active. Their high-pitched, staccato piping calls often reveal their presence before they are seen