Alternative names: Crimson-rumped Myzomela, Yellow-vented Honeyeater; Eichhorn's Honeyeater
- Myzomela eichhorni
Identification
12-13 cm (4¾-5 in)
- Dark olive-grey upperparts, darker on head and hindneck and darker blackish-olive on wing and tail
- Scarlet rump and uppertail-coverts
- Prominent yellowish-olive margins on wing-coverts and remiges, forming a pale panel on folded wing
- Scarlet chin and throat
- Yellow-olive rest of underparts
Variations
- atrata is darker than nominate and some males have red on nape
- ganongae is intermediate between nominate and atrata
Sexes similar but females are smaller, slightly paler and have a cinnamon-olive to rufous-olive rump.
Juveniles are dull brown-grey with a dark reddish-grey spot in the middle of chin and throat.
Distribution
Solomon Islands.
A common to fairly common restricted range species.
Taxonomy
Forms a superspecies with Sooty Myzomela, Red-bellied Myzomela, Black-headed Myzomela, Scarlet-naped Myzomela and Ebony Myzomela. All have been considered conspecific in the past.
Subspecies
Three subspecies recognized:
- M. e. eichhorni on New Georgia, Rendova, Vangunu and Kolombangara islands
- M. e. ganongae on Ranongga (Solomon Islands)
- M. e. atrata on Solomon Islands (Vellalavella and Baga)
Habitat
Found in primary and tall secondary forest. Also at forest edge in village gardens, coconut plantations and groves. On Kolombangara found in all habitats with shrubs and trees.
Occurs from sea-level up to 1500 m, most abundant at higher altitudes on Kolombangara.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on nectar but visits also ant-plants at high altitudes. Forages in small parties or in mixed-species feeding flocks in the canopy or in understorey.
Breeding
Juveniles seen in late August. No other information available.
Movements
No information available.
Reference
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2015. IOC World Bird Names (version 5.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Yellow-vented Myzomela. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Yellow-vented_Myzomela
