Red Myzomela

Myzomela cruentata

A beautiful small myzomela in which males are vivid-red with a slightly darker patch in front of the eyes. Female also has distinctive plumage: mostly olive with a reddish face, a red rump, and a reddish tail. Found in primary rainforest and forest edge as well as secondary growth, mainly in hill forest above 600 meters of elevation but sometimes below. Unique coloration separates it from similar species, the male being entirely red, and the female having the diagnostic reddish rump and tail. Common call is a repeated high-pitched, insect-like “tseet.”

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Myzomela cruentata
Authority
Meyer, AB, 1874
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Meliphagidae
Genus
Myzomela

Range and habitat

Migration
Nomadic movement

Conservation

Population trend
unknown

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

White-browed Brushfinch

White-browed Brushfinch

Arremon torquatus

Handsome brushfinch found in humid forest along the east slope of the Andes in Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, and far southeastern Peru. It has an olive back, black mask, striped head, and white throat. In the northern part of its range it also has a black breast-band. Similar to Gray-browed Brushfinch, but has white (not gray) eyebrow; also note range. Inhabits thickets in forest understory. Typical song is a seesawing series of three to four high-pitched whistles.

Rufous-margined Antwren

Rufous-margined Antwren

Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus

A small antwren with a relatively long tail and bill. Restricted to southeastern Brazil. Bright plumage for an antwren: look for its yellow belly, rufous wings, bold white wingbars, and dark eyeline. Sexes are similar, but female has a rufous cap, which is black on male. Most often seen in pairs, foraging in the low to middle levels of lowland and foothill forest. Frequently follows mixed-species flocks. Listen for a descending trill, fastest in the middle, with a piping quality.

Inaccessible Island Finch

Inaccessible Island Finch

Nesospiza acunhae

A highly variable finch with three distinct forms in the process of diversifying. The massive large-billed form is known as “Dunn’s Finch”; the two smaller forms with petite bills are a drab olive lowland form (Lowland Finch) and a bright yellow highland form (Highland Finch). Females of all forms are smaller, duller, and more streaked than males. Endemic to Inaccessible Island, where it is the only finch. Lowland form prefers grassy coast and cliffs, highland form prefers the plateau, and Dunn’s form prefers taller fruit-bearing woodland. In all forms, male sings a 3-note “whit-it-teeu” and the female whistles; Dunn’s form sounds deeper and slower than the others.

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