Eastern Spinebill

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris ‡

Clarksdale Bird Sanctuary, nr Linton SW Vic IMG_3810 20240105 - tenuirostris male. CLICK for another.

Notes: Small. Long decurved bill. Black mask w. dark marks down the side of the chest. Adult
male has obvious black cap; female grey cap, contrasting w. black mask. Dark rufous-brown
hindneck-collar fading to grey back & rump. Iris dark red or orange-red; bill black. Ssp halmat-
urinus is significantly smaller than nominate, male throat patch paler, some variation in size, birds
on Kangaroo Isl smaller but with longer bill than adjacent mainland populations. Blossom nomad.

Range from Morcombe & Stewart^©

Orient Point, SE NSW IMG_7042 20171022 - tenuirostris female Clarksdale Bird Sanctuary, nr Linton, SW Vic IMG_3721 20240105 - tenuirostris male. CLICK for another view. Brogo, SE NSW IMG_7186 20170204 - tenuirostris juvenile x 2: plain buff underparts. Kelly Hill Cons Park, Kangaroo Isl, SE SA IMG_4261 20241102 - halmaturinus male. CLICK for female. Kelly Hill Cons Park, Kangaroo Isl, SE SA IMG_4266 20241102 - halmaturinus male. Wondecla Cabin, FNE Qld IMG_1714 20251108 - cairnsensis female: dark grey cap contrast w. black mask; pale & diffuse
brown centre of lower throat. CLICK for another pic. Mt Lewis, Julatten, FN Qld IMG_8476 20180315 - cairnsensis male: black cap; pale & diffuse brown centre of lower throat. NE Tas IMG_9788 20160213 - dubius male: small dark throat patch @ centre of throat; colour grading from dark brown
on upper throat to black-brown on lower throat, strong rufous-brown on lower underbody. O'Reilly's, Lamington NP, SE Qld MVI_2965 20190701 - tenuirostris male Clarksdale Bird Sanctuary, nr Linton, SW Vic, SE NSW IMG_3746+3816 20240105 - tenuirostris male Wondecla State Forest & Tinaroo Falls @ dam, FN Qld MVI_6498+0086 20190908 & 20190414 - cairnsensis male then female

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