Arachnothera magna
The Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna) is a distinctive and robust member of the sunbird family, Nectariniidae, renowned for its unique foraging adaptations. Measuring 18-21 cm in length and weighing 26-44 g, this striking bird exhibits olive-green upperparts beautifully contrasted with heavily streaked yellowish-white underparts. Key identification marks include its remarkably long, decurved, dark brown bill, often with a paler base on the lower mandible, which is perfectly suited fo...
This species inhabits subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests, secondary growth, bamboo thickets, and forest edges. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 200 to 2,000 meters, occasionally reaching up to 2,800 meters.
The Streaked Spiderhunter primarily feeds on nectar from a variety of flowers, including those of bananas and ginger, and significantly supplements its diet with spiders and various insects such as caterpillars, beetles, and ants. It forages by probing flowers with its long bill and gleaning arth...
The Streaked Spiderhunter is a diurnal and highly active bird, often observed foraging solitarily or in pairs, though it may occasionally join mixed-species flocks. Its foraging strategy is remarkable: it uses its long, curved bill to probe deep into tubular flowers for nectar, frequently clingin...
The Streaked Spiderhunter has an extensive range spanning across the Himalayan foothills and much of Southeast Asia. Its breeding range encompasses northern India (from Uttarakhand eastward), Nepal, Bhutan, northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, northern and peninsular Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, ...
Least Concern
- The Streaked Spiderhunter is one of the largest members of the spiderhunter genus, making it quite a robust bird for its family. - Its extremely long, decurved bill is a specialized tool, perfectly adapted for accessing nectar from long, tubular flowers. - Despite its name, spiders comprise onl...