Monthly Archives: January 2013

Eastern Spinebill

Animals, , , ,

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

I’m pretty sure this is an Eastern Spinebill, it was sitting in the Macadamia tree in the front yard. I’d not head of this bird before and can’t say I remember ever seeing them around.

The Eastern Spinebill is a small bird, about 13cm – 16cm, it can be recognized by it’s long fine down curved beak. The bird in the photo is a female, males have more distinctive and defined colourings of black, white and tan across their body. They are found on much of the east and southeast coast of Australia and also throughout Tasmania.

Eastern Spinebill
Eastern Spinebill sitting in the Macadamia tree

Now I know what these guys look like they’ll probably be popping up all over the place.

Resources and references

Little Wattle Bird

Animals, , , ,

Anthochaera chrysoptera

You would think the Little Wattle Bird’s name comes from the abundant collection of wattle trees in it’s habitat. But I’m pretty sure it comes from it’s cousin species, the red and yellow Wattle birds. The Red Wattle Bird and Yellow Wattle Bird have prominent coloured wattles on their cheeks. The Little Wattle bird doesn’t have wattles itself, but the name remains.

Little Wattle birds are common in the back yard, they’re often seen eating the nectar from banksia flowers. I’ve not seen them on the bird feeder before, I guess they’re not fans of the native bird seed mix .

Little Wattle Bird
Little Wattle Bird in the Banksia out the back
Little Wattle Bird in the Banksia tree
Little Wattle Bird in the Banksia tree

Resources and references