Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Red-headed Myzomela

Myzomela erythrocephala

The Red-headed Myzomela, also known as the Red-headed Honeyeater, is a small passerine bird belonging to the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. This diminutive avian, measuring a mere 12 cm in length, is adorned with a glossy red head in males and a more subdued grey-brown plumage in females. It is a creature of the mangroves, flitting actively from flower to flower in search of nectar and insects.

Identification Tips

Males of the species are easily identified by their striking red heads, necks, and rumps, contrasting sharply with their brown upperparts and grey-brown underparts. Females, on the other hand, are predominantly grey-brown with a subtle pink-red hue on the forehead and chin. Both sexes possess a down-curved bill, ideal for their nectarivorous habits, and a short tail that complements their compact bodies.

Habitat

The Red-headed Myzomela thrives in subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, a habitat that provides ample nectar and insects for feeding, as well as shelter and nesting sites. These birds are also known to inhabit paperbark thickets adjacent to mangroves.

Distribution

This species is found across the tropical coastlines of Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Two subspecies are recognized: M. e. erythrocephala in Australia and M. e. infuscata in New Guinea. Despite its wide distribution, the Red-headed Myzomela is not abundant within its range.

Behaviour

The Red-headed Myzomela is typically observed alone or in pairs, though it may occasionally associate with other mangrove-feeding birds. It is known for its inquisitive nature and will investigate any disturbances within its territory. Males are particularly territorial, engaging in mid-air grappling with rivals.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Red-headed Myzomela includes a variety of metallic or scratchy calls and songs. Its song consists of a series of abrupt "tchwip" notes, while its contact call is a softer "swip-swip" sound. When threatened, it emits a scolding "charrk-charrk."

Breeding

Little is documented about the breeding behaviour of the Red-headed Myzomela. However, it is known to construct a small cup-shaped nest within the mangroves, laying two to three white eggs adorned with red blotches.

Similar Species

The Red-headed Myzomela can be confused with the Scarlet Myzomela, which resides in woodlands rather than mangroves. The Dusky Myzomela is similar to the female Red-headed Myzomela but is larger and lacks red markings around the bill.

Diet and Feeding

This species is primarily arboreal, feeding on nectar and insects found in the crowns of mangroves and other flowering trees. It is a vital pollinator for certain mangrove species and may travel some distance to feed on plants in bloom.

Conservation status

The Red-headed Myzomela is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a widespread population. However, the Australian population of the subspecies M. e. infuscata is considered near threatened due to its limited distribution. Rising sea levels pose a potential threat to this mangrove specialist.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Red-headed Myzomelas on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Honeyeaters

A photo of a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

Acanthagenys rufogularis
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Patricia L
Very encouraging birding app
Easy to use, fun to see progress and encouraging to receive feedback from other users.
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
BCHphotography_
Such a great app!
I didn’t think I could enjoy birding more but this app makes it so much better. Some great features and a really great way to share your sightings with your friends or fellow birders nearby or around the world! ❤️
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Leonie
We've been waiting for an App like this
Excellent! We've been waiting for an app like this! Thank you! It would be nice if you could assign additional birds to sessions later!
Nicole
Gets me outdoors more
I'm still loving this app. I use it most days & gets me outdoors more. Enjoying watching others progress and photo's, it's improved my wellbeing.... I love this app! I can keep a record of sightings and see what others have seen too.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.