Western Spinebill

Its contact call is a rapid high-pitched whistle, but when feeding it has a quieter whistle.

The Western Spinebill is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Western Spinebill, Acanthorhynchus superciliosus, is a honeyeater found in the heath and woodland of south-western Western Australia. It ranges between 12–15 centimetres (4.7–5.9 in) long, and weighs around 10 grams (0.35 oz). It has a black head, gray back and wings, with a red band behind its neck and from its throat to its breast. There are white banks behind its bill and its eyes. It has a long slender curved bill. More

Like other honeyeaters, the Western Spinebill feeds on nectar. It tends to obtain its nectar from lower shrubs than most other honeyeaters, including Banksia, Dryandra, Grevillea, Adenanthos and Verticordia. It also feeds from trees of Banksia and Eucalyptus, and from herbs such as Anigozanthos. In addition to nectar, it feeds on insects that it captures in the air or on plants. More

Western Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus superciliosus) been recorded visiting cultivated plants ” This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2006) This article about a honeyeater is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia. More

The male Western Spinebill was also aggressively defending the territory — including multiple efforts to deter the 'other' male spinebill seen in our car window and mirror! INTRODUCTION TO AUSTRALIA TRIP August 2008 Perth to Albany, W.A. More

Crescent Honeyeater, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Western Spinebill (in Western Australia) Where does it live? Distribution The Eastern Spinebill's range is generally east of the Great Dividing Range from Cooktown in Queensland to the Flinders Ranges in South Australia Habitat The Eastern Spinebill prefers heath, forest and woodland. Seasonal movements Largely sedentary, but undergoes some local movements, especially away from higher elevations in autumn/winter. More

Western Spinebill, which is not found in the same area. The plumage of males is more striking than females. Males have a black head that contrasts strongly with a white chin and throat where as the female has an olive-grey head but are otherwise similar to the. Juveniles lack the distinct markings of adults being dark olive on the top of the head and back with a white chin and throat and a cinnamon chest and belly. More

The following is a photograph of a Western Spinebill at Cheyne Beach east of Albany in April 2003. More

one other, the Western Spinebill of Western Australia. The generic name is derived from the Greek translation of its common name, namely acantho-/ακανθο- "spine" and rhynchos/ρυνχο?? "bill". Its specific name is from Latin tenuis "narrow" and rostrum billed. It belongs to the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. More recently, DNA analysis has shown honeyeaters to be related to the Pardalotidae, and the Petroicidae (Australian robins) in a large corvid superfamily; some researchers considering all these families in a broadly defined Corvidae. More

cousin, the Western Spinebill in Western Australia. That one will have to wait a little while to appear in my camera lens. Click on the image to enlarge the photo. For more photos go to my photo gallery here. Further reading: * To access the archived articles about honeyeaters click here. * Great birding moments - a list of articles about some of my great experiences in birding. More