Eastern spinebill ( Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris )  by Les Boucher
Les Boucher

Eastern spinebill ( Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris ) by

One of the smallest and most active honeyeaters, the eastern spinebill is often seen darting after insects. But it feeds primarily on nectar. Its favourite flowers include those of banksias and eucalypts but it specialises in taking nectar from tubular flowers with its long thin bill from plants such as Grevillea as seen here. It is known to hover to feed and for this reason is sometimes mistaken for a humming bird.
This is the male who has an overall length of 150-160 mm, including 25-33mm bill.

Panasonic Lumix FZ-18
Ap: 4.2
Shutter: 1 /250 sec
ISO: 400

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About Les Boucher

I reside on the South Coast of New South Wales in the St.Georges Basin area which is situated within the bounderies of the Shoalhaven. I take many of my landscapes and seascapes within this area in an effort to share the beauty that it holds.

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Tags

bird, australia, eastern spinebill

Comments

  • kalaryder
    kalaryderalmost 3 years ago

    Lovely bird and such a gentle colour to the Grevillea

  • Hi, I’m glad that you liked it…in case you are interested the Grevillea is “Superb”

    – Les Boucher

  • Kristina K
    Kristina Kalmost 3 years ago

    sweet honey eater, well capture les..
    i used to live next door to bouchers in bairnsdale, many moons ago…:))) k

  • Les Boucher
    Les Boucheralmost 3 years ago

    Hi Kristina and thank you . As far as I know they aren’t related but with my fractured family…..who knows….;-))..LOL

  • itsallgoodamanda
    itsallgoodamandaalmost 3 years ago

    Very niceLes well done,cute little birds

  • Thank’s Amanda I’m glad that you liked it. It took a lot of sitting still and waiting before these little guys trusted me enough to allow me to even lift the camera without them vanishing into the distance.

    – Les Boucher

  • MissyD
    MissyD12 months ago

    Congrats on your wonderful feature! 10/06/11

  • Thank you for the feature …I am glad that you found it worthy.

    – Les Boucher