They share many similarities with the delicate American hummingbirds. They are also often seen around colourful flowers from which nectar is extracted. However, these birds were named for their preferred diet: spiders. For more information, see our guide on hummingbirds.
Description
The Little Spiderhunters measure 6.7 inches or 17 cm in length. The black beak is very long and curved down.
The upper plumage is olive-green, and below, they are bright yellow with bold black streaks.
The eyes are large and dark. The head is small and the neck is thin. The legs are thin and orange. The toes are long and curved.
Males and females look alike, except females have a paler base to the lower beak than males. Males have all-black beaks.
Distribution / Habitat
The Little Spiderhunters occur naturally in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India (Eastern and Western Ghats, north-east India), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam.
Their natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland, mangrove and moist montane forests. They may also visit gardens to feed on flowers. They usually remain below the canopy and are usually seen in pairs or small family groups.
Little Spiderhunters thrive in many different forested habitats, including lowland tropical forest and higher montane forest, where they find abundant food sources as well as suitable nesting areas. They are also often seen in mangrove habitats where they search for nectar and insects. They are primarily found in dense forests, but have also adapted to man-made landscapes. They will sometimes visit gardens and cultivated fields looking for flowering plants. Little Spiderhunters, despite their size, are very energetic birds. They move frequently through the lower levels of the forest to feed and find shelter. They prefer to live in small groups or pairs, which allows them to form strong social bonds and makes them more resistant to environmental changes.
Subspecies and Ranges:
- Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna magna – Hodgson, 1836) – Nominate form found in the Himalayas, in Nepal, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, eastern Bangladesh and northeastern India east to southern China and northern Burma / Myanmar.
- Streaked Spiderhunter (aurata) (Arachnothera magna aurata – Blyth, 1855) – Found in East and central Burma / Myanmar.
- Streaked Spiderhunter (musarum) (Arachnothera magna musarum – Deignan, 1956) – Found in Southeastern Burma / Myanmar in the southern Shan States to the northern parts of Thailand and Laos, and northern Vietnam (western Tonkin).
- Streaked Spiderhunter (pagodarum) (Arachnothera magna pagodarum – Deignan, 1956) – Found in southern Burma / Myanmar, and southwestern/western Thailand and the Southern Malay Peninsula. This race could be combined with ssp. musarum in the future with whom they hybridise in southern Burma / Myanmar (Karen Hills).
- Streaked Spiderhunter (remota) (Arachnothera magna remota – Riley, 1940) – Found in South-central and southern Vietnam
Breeding
Most breeding occurs in March to September in northeastern India or from December to August in southern India.
The compact cup-shaped nest is constructed by the female who uses various twigs, leaves, moss, spider webs and blades of grass. The nest is usually suspended from tree branches or attached under the leaf of a banana or similar broad-leaved plant by spider web and vegetable fibres.
The average clutch consists of 2 eggs. The Little Spiderhunter female carefully chooses the nesting location, often choosing a place that provides some protection and shelter from predators. The female Little Spiderhunter will lay two eggs after building the nest. These are usually white with faint speckles. During the incubation phase, which lasts 12-14 days, the female stays mostly on the nest while the male feeds her. The chicks grow quickly under the watchful parents. As chicks get older, they are more active and eager to leave the nest. According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this species is well documented.
Diet / Feeding
As suggested by this bird’s common name, they hunt and feed on spiders. Furthermore, they take nectar from various flowering plants, including wild Musaceae plants, wild bananas, which are valuable pollinators, as well as feeding on the nectar of various species of the ginger family and Loranthus sp. (= Dendrophthoe sp.) Indian Silk Cotton Trees and Indian Coral Trees. According to BirdLife International, this species is well documented.
The Little Spiderhunter eats a variety of insects in addition to spiders. It hunts them with its long, curving bill. The ability of the Little Spiderhunter to catch both insects and nectar enables it to thrive in environments with both food sources. The Little Spiderhunter, by feeding on the nectar from various flowering plants in its range, plays an important role in pollination. This facilitates the reproduction of numerous plant species. The interactions of the Little Spiderhunter with wild bananas, ginger species and other plants contribute to the health of tropical ecosystems. Little Spiderhunters are an important part of Southeast Asia’s forest ecosystems, supporting both insect and plant populations by feeding on them and pollinating their flowers.
Calls / Vocalisations / Sounds
Their frequent vocalisations are described as tzeck, or a buzzy zick-zick made when disturbed or when foraging. The songs are a series of rapid chipping notes.
Alternate (Global) Names
Chinese: ????? … Czech: Strdimil ostnitý / proužkovaný … Danish: Stribet Edderkoppejæger … Dutch: Gestreepte Spinnenjager … Finnish: Viirulukkinen … French: Arachnothère striée, Grand Arachnotère / Arachnothère … German: Strichelspinnenjäger … Italia: Cacciaragni / Mangiaragni striato … Japanese: tatejimakumokaridori … Norwegian: Stripeedderkoppjeger … Polish: Pajecznik kreskowany … Russian: ???????????? / ????????? ??????????-?????????? … Slovak: Pavuciarka ciarkavá … Spanish: Arañera Rayada / Estriado … Swedish: Streckad spindeljägare … Thai: ?????????????
Conservation Status & Threats
The Little Spiderhunter, as it stands, is not in danger of extinction. It is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a “Least Concerned” species. Its wide distribution in Southeast Asia and its ability to adapt to different habitats are the main reasons for this. The habitat of this species is relatively safe, as it is not under any significant threat in terms of population decline.
As with many tropical species, habitat destruction and deforestation could affect the Little Spiderhunter. The availability of habitats suitable for this bird may decrease as forests in Southeast Asia are cleared for agricultural and urban development. Climate change could also affect the plants and insects on which the Little Spiderhunter depends for its food.
Conservation efforts that are focused on protecting tropical forests and ensuring sustainable land-use practices will help protect the habitats and species of the Little Spiderhunter. It is important to maintain the biodiversity in the region by ensuring that these tropical forests are not destroyed.
Species Research by Sibylle Johnson
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