Bird devoured by giant spider

A giant spider in Australia has eaten a bird that became entangled in its web.

A golden orb weaver spun a web in a backyard in near Cairns in Australia, then proceeded to devour its trapped prey.

Joel Shakespeare, head spider keeper at New South Wales's Australian Reptile Park, registered his shock at seeing an image of the spider attacking the bird, a chestnut-breasted mannikin.

"Normally they prey on large insects. It's unusual to see one eating a bird," he told Ninemsn.