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.”

Identification

The red myzomela (Myzomela cruentata) is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is found in New Guinea and New Britain. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. The reddish myzomela (M. erythrina) of New Ireland was formerly considered conspecific, but phylogenetic evidence indicates that both are distinct species, and it has thus been split from it by the IUCN Red List, BirdLife International, and the International Ornithologists' Union. There are two recognized subspecies: M. c. cruentata - New Guinea and Yapen M. c. coccinea - New Britain and the Duke of York Islands

Taxonomy

Genus: Myzomela; Family: Meliphagidae; Order: Passeriformes.

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

Range and habitat

Migration
Nomadic

Behavior

Migration pattern: Nomadic.

Conservation

Population trend
unknown

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

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