Micronesian Myzomela vs Scarlet Myzomela

Micronesian Myzomela

Myzomela rubratra

Tiny14 gForest

The Micronesian myzomela is a small honeyeater measuring 13 cm in length. The sexes differ in size and appearance: The adult male weighs 15 g (range 12.7–18 g) and has a 72 mm wing chord, a 13 mm bill, a 55 mm tail, and a 21 mm tarsus, and the adult female is smaller, weighing 12.7 g (range 10.4–15 g) and with a wing chord measuring 66 mm, a 11 mm bill, a 55 mm tail, and a 20 mm tarsus. In both sexes and at all ages, the bill is distinctly curved downwards. It is colored brown with a yellow base in juveniles, darkening with age, becoming completely black in adults. Voice: The Micronesian myzomela has a complex dawn song that differs from its vocalizations later in the day. On Kosrae, the song begins before there is enough light to see the bird and lasts until it is visible (about 25 minutes); it has been described as sounding like multiple birds singing in unison.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Jay Paroline · CC BY 4.0

Scarlet Myzomela

Myzomela sanguinolenta

Tiny8 gForest

The smallest honeyeater native to Australia, the scarlet myzomela is a distinctive bird with a compact body, short tail and relatively long down-curved black bill and dark brown iris. It is between 9 and 11 cm (3.5 and 4.3 in) long, with an average wingspan of 18 cm (7.1 in) and a weight of 8 g (0.28 oz). It has relatively long wings for its size; when the wings are folded, the longest primary feathers reach over half the length of the tail. It exhibits sexual dimorphism, with the male much more brightly coloured than the female.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: James Niland from Brisbane, Australia · CC BY 2.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Micronesian Myzomela and Scarlet Myzomela.