Myza sarasinorum
The White-eared Myza (Myza sarasinorum) is a captivating medium-sized honeyeater, endemic to the montane cloud forests of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Measuring approximately 20-22 cm in length and weighing between 25-35 grams, this slender passerine is adorned with olive-green plumage on its upperparts, contrasting with a duller greyish-green below. Its most distinctive field mark, providing its common name, are the prominent white ear-tufts that stand out against a dark facial mask extending from t...
Found exclusively in submontane and montane cloud forests, mossy forests, and high-elevation scrub, typically at elevations ranging from 1200 to 3000 meters above sea level.
Feeds primarily on nectar, using its specialized bill to probe flowers, and supplements its diet with small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark.
White-eared Myzas are active diurnal foragers, spending their days meticulously searching for sustenance within the dense forest canopy and understory. Their long, decurved bill is a specialized tool, allowing them to probe deep into tubular flowers for nectar, often observed hanging acrobaticall...
The White-eared Myza is an avian jewel endemic solely to the mountainous regions of Sulawesi, Indonesia, with no recorded occurrences elsewhere. Its distribution is fragmented across various mountain ranges, primarily in central and northern Sulawesi, with a distinct subspecies, *M. s. orientalis...
Least Concern
- The White-eared Myza is strictly endemic to the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, found nowhere else in the world. - Its scientific name, Myza sarasinorum, honors the Swiss naturalists Paul and Fritz Sarasin, who conducted extensive research in Sulawesi. - Despite its 'myza' genus name, it is a tr...