Little Spiderhunter

Arachnothera longirostra

Family: Spiderhunters and Sunbirds · Status: Uncommon resident · Size: 16–16.5 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Occurs from the Indian subcontinent to southern China, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo.

Identification

Adult has pale grey head with indistinct broken eyering, grey throat, dark moustachial stripe, yellow belly and olive-yellow upperparts. Thinner bill and more yellow-tinged upperparts separate it from Thick-billed Spiderhunter. Differs from Yellow-eared Spiderhunter by lacking prominent yellow ear patch.

Habitat

Forest and forest edge.

Behaviour

Frequents the lower storey; forages singly or in pairs for nectar and insects, including from spider webs. Often frequents areas with flowering wild bananas and ginger.