Western Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus superciliosus)
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Western Spinebill

Acanthorhynchus superciliosus Gould, 1837

12–16 cmLength9.7 gWeight

The western spinebill (Acanthorhynchus superciliosus) is a honeyeater found in the heath and woodland of south-western Australia.

Busiest months: October–March · Most records: Australia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Western Spinebill has been recorded at 5 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Victoria Dam – Access road, track and picnic areaAustralia817 records
  2. Lake McLarty Nature ReserveAustralia51 records
  3. Lake Monger ReserveAustralia9 records
More places
  1. Herdsman LakeAustralia6 records
  2. Bibra LakeAustralia3 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Australia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The western spinebill (Acanthorhynchus superciliosus) is a honeyeater found in the heath and woodland of south-western Australia. It has a black head, gray back and wings, with a red band behind its neck and from its throat to its breast. Its curved bill is long and slender.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Western Spinebill?

The Western Spinebill is about 12–16 cm long and weighs around 9.7 g.

Where does the Western Spinebill live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: southwestern Western Australia (southwestern Australia). It is most often recorded in Australia.

When is the best time to see the Western Spinebill?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January, February, March, October, November and December (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Western Spinebill endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Western Spinebill as Least Concern.

What does the Western Spinebill eat?

Main food: Nectar.

What family is the Western Spinebill in?

It belongs to the family Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
12–16 cm
Weight
9.7 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Nectar
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
61 mm
Tail
54 mm
Bill
24 mm
Tarsus
20 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: southwestern Western Australia (southwestern Australia)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Honeyeaters Meliphagidae
Genus
Acanthorhynchus

Other birds in the genus Acanthorhynchus

Eastern SpinebillEastern SpinebillAcanthorhynchus tenuirostrisDark-eared MyzaDark-eared MyzaMyza celebensisWhite-eared MyzaWhite-eared MyzaMyza sarasinorumGreen-backed HoneyeaterGreen-backed HoneyeaterGlycichaera fallaxSooty HoneyeaterSooty HoneyeaterMelionyx fuscusLong-bearded HoneyeaterLong-bearded HoneyeaterMelionyx princepsShort-bearded HoneyeaterShort-bearded HoneyeaterMelionyx nouhuysiLeaden HoneyeaterLeaden HoneyeaterPtiloprora plumbeaYellowish-streaked HoneyeaterYellowish-streaked HoneyeaterPtiloprora meekianaRufous-sided HoneyeaterRufous-sided HoneyeaterPtiloprora erythropleura
Western Spinebill

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by J Magoo. ↗

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