Dark-eared Myza
Myza celebensis
A medium-sized brown songbird in the honeyeater family with a long, downcurved bill. Lightly streaked and scalloped all over, its only conspicuous feature being a pale eye-ring. Singles and pairs occur in the understory of montane forest. Occurs at sites with the larger White-eared Myza, but Dark-eared shows an eye-ring rather than a spot below the eye, never shows rufous-toned underparts, and usually prefers lower elevations. Song consists of a rising trill. Also gives grating “kip-kip-kip….” call notes.
Identification
The sexes are similar in appearance in the dark-eared myza but males are heavier than females and have longer heads, bills, wings and tail. The adult male is about 17 cm (6.7 in) in length and weighs about 21 g (0.7 oz). The head and neck are grey or olivaceous streaked with dark brown. The bill is dark-coloured, long and curved downwards, and there is a bare yellowish patch of skin surrounding the dark eye. The back, wings and tail are brown with streaks of darker brown and the underparts are also brown, but less streaked than the upper parts. Southern populations (subspecies meridionalis), have a greyer base colour.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Myza celebensis
- Authority
- (Meyer, AB & Wiglesworth, 1894)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Genus
- Myza
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The dark-eared myza is found in forests at elevations from 900 metres (3,000 ft) up to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) in the north of the island and up to 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) in the south. It feeds from flowers and is described as darting rapidly from one inflorescence to another in its quest for nectar.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Brown-headed Apalis
Apalis alticola
Plain apalis with gray upperparts, dark brown on the head, and pale underparts. Found in middle and high-elevation forest. Usually in pairs or small groups which will join mixed-species flocks. Most often in the canopy. The main vocalization is a rough, repeated “chree” which can be accompanied by a rattling call. Very similar to Gray Apalis, but in limited overlap zone, separated by the browner head and by white spots on the tip of the tail rather than all-white outer tail.
Calabarzon Babbler
Sterrhoptilus affinis
A fairly small bird of lowland and foothill forest and edge; endemic to Luzon, though lumped with Visayan Babbler under “Black-crowned Babbler” by some taxonomies. Has a gray back and cheek with fine pale streaks, dark wings and tail with white outer tail feathers, white underparts, a pale rufous throat, and a black crown. Note the slender black bill. Often joins mixed-species flocks and sometimes hangs upside down while feeding. Somewhat similar to Green-backed Whistler, especially from below, but smaller, with a pale rufous throat and a black crown. Voice includes a medium-pitched “poo piuu!” with the second note downslurred.
Yellow-billed Chough
Pyrrhocorax graculus
Conspicuous, social, and noisy inhabitant of high mountains. Feeds mostly on insects in summer and berries, seeds, and food waste in winter, scavenging around ski resorts, towns, and monasteries, where it can be very tame. Told from juvenile Red-billed Chough by its shorter, bright yellow bill and shorter wing fingers. Wings do not extend to the tail tip when perched. Gives a strange, squeaky trill very unlike calls of crows and ravens, as well as a high-pitched descending squeak.
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