Eastern Spinebill
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
Silhouette: Michael Scroggie · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMeliphagidae (Honeyeaters)
- GenusAcanthorhynchus (Spinebills)
- SpeciesAcanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill)
About the Eastern Spinebill
The eastern spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) is a species of honeyeater found in eastern Australia from Queensland to Tasmania in forest and woodland areas, as well as gardens in urban areas. It is around 15 cm long, and has a distinctive black, white and chestnut plumage, a red eye, and a long downcurved bill.
Originally described as Certhia tenuirostris by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801, it is a member of the small genus Acanthorhynchus with one other, the western spinebill of Western Australia. The generic name is derived from the Greek translation of spinebill, namely acantho-/ακανθο- 'spine' and rhynchos/ρυνχος 'bill'. Its specific epithet is from Latin tenuis 'narrow' and rostrum 'bill'. Other English names include spine-billed honeyeater and awl-bird or cobbler's awl bird. The eastern spinebill is polytypic, consisting of the subspecies A. t. cairnsensis, A. t. dubius, A. t. halmaturinus, and the nominate subspecies A. t. tenuirostris.
The eastern spinebill forms a superspecies with the closely related western spinebill. Scientists believe the two sister species are descended from a shared ancestor whose once widespread populations were... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Eastern Spinebill in Royal National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Royal National Park
Lewin's Honeyeater
Meliphaga lewinii
Little Wattlebird
Anthochaera chrysoptera
Noisy Miner
Manorina melanocephala
New Holland Honeyeater
Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
Caligavis chrysops
Red Wattlebird
Anthochaera carunculata
Noisy Friarbird
Philemon corniculatus
Scarlet Myzomela
Myzomela sanguinolenta
Tawny-crowned Honeyeater
Gliciphila melanops
White-eared Honeyeater
Nesoptilotis leucotis
White-naped Honeyeater
Melithreptus lunatus
Brown-headed Honeyeater
Melithreptus brevirostris
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Maria Island National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Flinders Chase | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 12 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 13 | Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 14 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 15 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Eastern Spinebill in Royal National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Eastern Spinebill sighting in Royal National Park, based on 912 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Eastern Spinebill in Royal National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Eastern Spinebill in Royal National Park in our monthly data.