Alor Myzomela
Myzomela prawiradilagae
A striking and little-known small honeyeater found only in the eucalyptus-dominated highlands of Alor, in the eastern Lesser Sundas. Unmistakable in its limited range; note bright red face and crown (brighter and more extensive in the male), pale belly, gray back, red rump, and slightly curved dark bill. Song is a high-pitched series of sharp, fast trilled notes. Call is a high buzzy “tseeep” that rises, then falls. Like many other myzomelas, readily encountered at flowering trees.
Taxonomy
It closely resembles and is most closely related to the Wetar myzomela (M. kuehni) of the adjacent island of Wetar. However, it noticeably differs in its calls and morphology.
- Scientific name
- Myzomela prawiradilagae
- Authority
- Irham, Ashari, Suparno, Trainor, Verbelen, Wu, MY & Rheindt, 2019
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Genus
- Myzomela
Range and habitat
The Alor myzomela is restricted to a few montane areas of Alor Island, where it lives in Eucalyptus woodlands primarily composed of white gum (Eucalyptus alba) and Timor mountain gum (Eucalyptus urophylla), as well as wattles (Acacia sp.) and sheoak (Casuarina junghuhniana). This restricted distribution is in contrast to its close relative M. kuehni, which is among the most common birds on its islands; this difference may be due to the different habitat requirements of the two species.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Snow Partridge
Lerwa lerwa
A stone-colored terrestrial bird of stony hillsides, mountain ridges, and meadows above treeline. Adults speckled gray and white above, with dense rusty streaking on white underparts, red bill, and deep red legs. Usually forages in small groups, often in very exposed areas such as cliff sides and rocky ridges. Song, often given by multiple birds in a group simultaneously, is high-pitched and has a slippery, squeaky quality like wet shoes on tile; male song louder and ascending, female’s softer and descending.
Shining Flycatcher
Myiagra alecto
A long-tailed, slender songbird with fine bill. Male entirely glossy blue-black. Female a rich chestnut above, white below, with black crown and face (in poor light, may appear dark above; compare Restless and Paperbark flycatchers). Inhabits mangroves and wetlands, actively pursuing insects on the ground and in low vegetation. Song a clear whistled “towhit-too-towhit.”
Purple-throated Cotinga
Porphyrolaema porphyrolaema
Striking, ornately-colored cotinga. Male and female are uniquely beautiful: males are black above, white below, with a bright purple throat and breast; females are tawny yellowish with extensive black barring. Found in the canopy of mature rainforest; seemingly preferentially around water. Its song is a mellow whistled “wheeeu”, which sounds similar to several other species like Cinereous Mourner and Chestnut-capped Puffbird.
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