Myzomela erythrocephala
The Red-headed Myzomela (Myzomela erythrocephala) is a small, vivacious honeyeater, typically measuring around 10-12 cm in length and weighing a mere 6-9 grams. Males are instantly recognizable by their brilliant, iridescent scarlet head, neck, and upper breast, contrasting sharply with a dark grey back and white lower underparts. Females are far more subdued, exhibiting a duller brownish or yellowish-brown head and neck, and often lacking the male's vibrant red entirely, appearing dusky. Its...
This species primarily inhabits coastal and near-coastal environments, favoring mangrove forests, monsoon vine thickets, and paperbark woodlands. It is typically found at low elevations, from sea level up to a few hundred meters.
The primary diet consists of nectar, supplemented significantly by small insects and spiders, which are crucial for protein. They feed by probing flowers with their specialized brush-tipped tongues.
Highly active and ceaselessly on the move, the Red-headed Myzomela is a diurnal bird, rarely seen perching for long periods. It forages primarily for nectar, rapidly flitting between flowers, often hovering briefly or hanging upside down to access the deepest nectaries. Insects and spiders are al...
The Red-headed Myzomela has a discontinuous distribution across northern Australia and southern New Guinea. In Australia, its range extends along the coastal and near-coastal regions from the Kimberley coast of Western Australia, across the Top End of the Northern Territory, and down the Queensla...
Least Concern
- The Red-headed Myzomela is one of the smallest honeyeaters in its range, a tiny dynamo of the Australian tropics. - Its slender, decurved bill is perfectly adapted for reaching nectar deep within flowers, acting like a specialized straw. - Males boast one of the most vivid red heads in the bird...