Myzomela pammelaena
The Bismarck Black Myzomela, *Myzomela pammelaena*, is a striking and active honeyeater endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago. Males are entirely adorned in a glossy, iridescent black plumage, reflecting light with subtle blue and purple sheens, contrasted by a vivid red eye that stands out against its dark head. Females, while also black, exhibit a slightly duller, more sooty black coloration, lacking the intense gloss of their male counterparts. This small species measures approximately 10-12...
Found primarily in tropical moist lowland forests, forest edges, and disturbed secondary growth, often extending into cultivated areas and gardens, typically at elevations below 1,000 meters.
Primarily nectarivorous, feeding on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, supplemented with small insects gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
This diurnal species is highly active, spending its day energetically foraging among flowering trees and shrubs. Foraging involves agile aerial maneuvers, often hovering briefly before flowers to probe for nectar with its specialized bill, or gleaning small insects from foliage. Males are highly ...
The Bismarck Black Myzomela is strictly endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago, a group of islands off the northeastern coast of New Guinea. Its distribution encompasses major islands such as New Britain, New Ireland, and New Hanover, as well as smaller associated islands including the Tabar, Lihir,...
Least Concern
- This species is a true island endemic, found only on the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago in Papua New Guinea. - Its entirely glossy black plumage in males, unusual for many *Myzomela* species which often feature bright red, makes it highly distinctive. - The vivid red eye of both sexes prov...