Papuan Black Myzomela
Myzomela nigrita
A small honeyeater of foothill forest canopy and edge. Male is uniform jet black and female dull brown with a red forehead and chin. Similar to male Black Sunbird, but male Papuan Black Myzomela lacks the iridescence and white underwings. Similar to female Red and Elfin Myzomelas but female Red has a red tail and female Elfin lacks the red forehead. Call, a simple, high-pitch “tsip!” like other myzomelas.
Identification
The species is 12–13 cm (4.7–5.1 in) with males being larger than females. Males are lacquer-black and have white underwing-coverts. Females are coloured drab brown and they have a reddish forehead and throat, except for the tail. Some females have a sooty black face without any red and in the southeast of its range, many females may appear completely black. Juveniles resemble darker or grey-brown females.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Myzomela nigrita
- Authority
- Gray, GR, 1858
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Genus
- Myzomela
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Red-throated Tit
Melaniparus fringillinus
An unusual tit with a rufous face, collar, and breast and a gray cap and back. Also note the prominent white wingbars on the gray wings. Found locally in dry acacia savanna, usually in small groups; readily joins mixed flocks with other species. Easily separated from all other tits by the rufous breast. Call is a classic tit “tsit-tsit-di-di-di,” rough and often repeated. The song is a repeated phrase of two whistles.
Olive Flyrobin
Kempiella flavovirescens
A small bird of lowland and foothill forest midstory. Olive upperparts, yellowish-olive below and brighter yellow throat. Note the split yellow eye-ring and bicolored bill, black above and orange below. Similar to Yellow-legged Flycatcher but Olive Flyrobin has a yellow rather than white throat. Also similar to Lemon-bellied Flycatcher but Olive Flyrobin has a distinct eye-ring and is found in forest rather than savanna. Voice, and up-and-down, medium-pitch, whistled song and a thin “tseep” call.
Bismarck Woodswallow
Artamus insignis
A thick-bodied, highly aerobatic bird, white-bodied above and below with black wings, a black hood, and an obvious pale eye-ring. Bill pale bluish with a limited dark tip. No similar species occur within its range. Found in open or forest-edge habitats. Common call is an upslurred metallic “zwink zwink,” but not particularly vocal.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.