Wakolo Myzomela Myzomela wakoloensis

A small honeyeater with a downcurved bill, limited to the islands of Buru and Seram. Spectacular male is unmistakable, all brilliant scarlet except for the blackish wings, tail, and belly. Female is dull gray-brown except for a diagnostic red wash on the head. Prefers forests and forest edge in foothills and mountains, where encountered singly or in pairs, sometimes with mixed-species feeding flocks. Calls on Buru include a disyllabic, slurring “tsiwit” as well as a “tsisewoo” song with trembling quality at the end. Voice of Seram birds differs, possibly indicating that they are a different species: “twee’ti’dit’tee.”