Red-headed Myzomela
Myzomela erythrocephala
The Red-headed Myzomela (Myzomela erythrocephala) is a rare honeyeater found in 3 countries, weighing about 8 g. The red-headed myzomela or red-headed honeyeater is a passerine bird of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
About the Red-headed Myzomela
The red-headed myzomela or red-headed honeyeater is a passerine bird of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. It was described by John Gould in 1840. Two subspecies are recognised, with the nominate race M. e. erythrocephala distributed around the tropical coastline of Australia, and M. e. infuscata in New Guinea. Though widely distributed, the species is not abundant within this range. While the IUCN lists the Australian population of M. e. infuscata as being near threatened, as a whole the widespread range means that its conservation is of least concern.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The red-headed myzomela is a distinctive small honeyeater with a compact body, short tail and relatively long down-curved bill. It averages 12 centimetres (4.7 in), with a wingspan of 17–19 cm (6.7–7.5 in) and a weight of 8 grams (0.28 oz). The birds exhibit sexual dimorphism, with males being slightly larger and much more brightly coloured than females. The adult male of the nominate subspecies has a dark red head, neck, and rump; the red is glossy, reflecting bright light. The rest of the upper body is a blackish-brown, and the upper breast and under-body a light brownish-grey.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Red-headed Myzomela can be seen all year round, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Red-headed Myzomela?
- The red-headed myzomela is a distinctive small honeyeater with a compact body, short tail and relatively long down-curved bill. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Red-headed Myzomela?
- The Red-headed Myzomela is a tiny sized bird weighing about 8 g.
- Where can you see a Red-headed Myzomela?
- The Red-headed Myzomela occurs in 3 countries, including Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.
- What birds look similar to a Red-headed Myzomela?
- The Red-headed Myzomela is most easily confused with the Micronesian Myzomela, the Red-collared Myzomela and the Sulphur-breasted Myzomela.
- Is the Red-headed Myzomela endangered?
- The Red-headed Myzomela is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Red-headed Myzomela for real
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