Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra Scientific name definitions

13·3–16 cm; male 10·3–16·1 g, female 8·8–13·7 g (race buettikoferi), male 12·5–15·8 g, female 9·3–14 g (cinereicollis). Male nominate race has very long, stout, gently decurved bill; plumage olive above, crown feathers dark-centred, sides of head grey, lores white, short blackish submoustachial streak; upperwing-coverts olive, remiges dusky brown with olive edges, tail dark brown, fringed olive and narrowly tipped whitish; throat and breast greyish white, breast tinged yellow, rest of underparts bright yellow, usually whiter on undertail-coverts, pectoral tufts orange; iris brown to dark brown; bill horn-brown, greyer on gonys and at base of mandible, or black above and pale grey below; legs black, blackish grey or bluish grey. Female is similar to male but smaller, has whiter throat, paler base to mandible, and lacks pectoral tufts. Juvenile is similar to female but browner, with bright olive-fringed wing feathers, and paler bill and feet. Race sordida is similar to nominate, but has dull whitish-grey lores, much shorter bill; pallida has much shorter bill than nominate, olive-green of upperparts paler and greyer, very white throat, underparts very pale yellow; <em>cinereicollis</em> is very long-billed, has bluish tinge to grey on sides of head, neck and throat, black at corner of mouth, with upperwing and tail greenish brown, breast to vent yellow, white undertail-coverts; zarhina has much longer bill than previous, but shorter wing, and much duller dorsal surface; niasensis also has longer bill and wings, and very pale yellow underparts; rothschildi is yellow below (like cinereicollis), but bill and often also wings shorter; atita differs from last in having longer bill, and yellow of underparts deeper, brighter and more golden; buettikoferi is browner and less olive than nominate, has paler pectoral tufts; and prillwitzi has brighter yellow underparts than nominate, and more orange pectoral tufts.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Understorey of various types of forest, including mangroves, regenerating secondary forest, disturbed and heavily logged forests, forest edge, kerangas (Borneo), also coastal vegetation, secondary growth, plantations, gardens and cultivation, particularly around plantains (Musa) and gingers (Zingiberaceae), also rubber, cardamom, sholas (Aeschynomene sp.) and Albizia plantations. Generally below 600 m; up to 1500 m in S India, 75–305 m in Nepal, 2100 m in China, 1680 m in Peninsular Malaysia, and 2000 or 2200 m on Sumatra, Java and Bali; sea-level to 1500 m on Borneo.

Nectar , insects, and spiders (Araneae). Known foodplants include Canna sp., Erythrina, mistletoes (Loranthaceae), Melastoma spp., Musa sp., Spathodea sp. and unidentified Zingiberaceae. Forages singly and in pairs, mostly in lower levels of vegetation. Takes insects from spider webs, and from pools of water in vegetation. Nectar-robbery recorded. Pollinates and takes nectar from durian trees (Durio); pollinates Strelitzia nicolai, also Musa species with either erect or pendulous inflorescences.

Much geographical variation. Songs include “which-which”, twice per second for c. 2 minutes, continuous “tee-chu”, first note rising, second falling, and squeaky “chew-chew-chew-chew” whistle; in S India described as continuous, syncopated, strident, metallic “clínk-clínk-clínk”, each note an upstroke, and in NE India as simple, metronomic, metallic upstroke “clínk-clínk…”, recalling Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius), or more varied “wink-link-wink-wink-link-link-wink”, irregular and with more noticeable pitch differences; in Malay Peninsula “tee tay” and “ti tee-tee-tah”, stressed on first syllable. Antiphonal singing occurs, presumably by pair-members. In flight, sharp “weechoo” or “cheek-cheek-cheek”; high-pitched “tik-ti-ti-ti”, first note higher, repeated continuously; harsh metallic “cheet” or “chee-chee”; repeated “chee-chee-chee” or “chip-chee-chee” or “chip-chip”; loud, harsh “sheep” repeated up to 25 times; loud “jit-jit”, increasing in rate and intensity.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Locally common in India in Western Ghats and NE; very scarce and local in SE Nepal, where recorded also in C; uncommon in Bhutan; locally common in Bangladesh; common in Tenasserim, but rare elsewhere in Myanmar, generally common in Thailand except E, locally common in S Laos, and common in Peninsular Malaysia; not uncommon on Sumatra, where density of up to c. 165 birds/km² in Harapan Rainforest Ecosystem Restoration Concession; common on Borneo. Occurs in numerous protected areas, examples of which are Nonggang National Nature Reserve, in SE China, Kaeng Krachan National Park and Khao Pra Bang Wildlife Sanctuary, in Thailand , Cat Tien National Park, in Vietnam, Way Kambas National Park, on Sumatra, Gunung Gede-Pangrango National Park, on Java and Bali, and Danum Valley Conservation Area and Tanjung Puting National Park, on Borneo.