Spinebills

The garden bed along the front of our house attracts several species of small birds. It brings me great joy to sit inside watching them so close to the windows. The bethel sage (Salvia involucrata 'Bethelii') provides regular food for several eastern spinebills (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris):

These little birds are amazing. Sometimes they hover like hummingbirds, sometimes they hang up-side down, and sometimes they just sit on the flowers like this. They don't stay still for long, though; they are constantly on the move. And thus very hard to photograph!

In the photo below there is unfortunately a leaf in front of the bird, but you can at least see how long and thin and "spiny" their bill is:

You can also see in the background that the liquidambar still has a few pretty leaves hanging on.