Sooty Myzomela Myzomela tristrami Scientific name definitions

11–12 cm; male 12·5–16·5g, female 11·5–14 g. Male is wholly black with faint violet-blue sheen, except for duller and brownish-tinged remiges, slightly paler greyish-black to dull blackish axillaries and underwing-coverts (varyingly mottled off-white), and pale silvery panel across bases of otherwise dark brown remiges on underwing; iris black-brown; bill black; legs slate-grey to black, sometimes with bluish tinge. Females is smaller than male, and possibly slightly duller and with slightly paler legs (but doubtfully distinguishable in field). Juvenile is duller than adult, sooty black above and greyish-olive below (or blackish with pale grey mottling or smudging below), bill dark yellow to orange-yellow with grey-black distal third, gape bright yellow, and legs paler; immature like adult, but slightly duller black above, olive-grey below with black mottling on breast and belly, and bill dark yellow with black tip.

Makira (San Cristobal), Santa Ana and Santa Catalina, probably also Ugi, in SE Solomon Is.

Primary and secondary forest, and modified habitats, including coconut plantations and gardens; occupies all vegetated habitats throughout San Cristobal. Lowlands and mountains, from sea-level to c. 900 m; more common on coast and at middle altitudes than in foothills or at 700–900m.

No information.

Mainly nectar, also small insects; once seen to carry a small fruit, which was dropped and caught again in mid-air. Forages mainly in canopy of forest or crowns of tall trees, including coconut palms and large garden trees; also in tall secondary growth and substages where forest disturbed. Searches on outside of crowns of trees or shrubs. Seldom singly; often in small parties of c. 6 individuals (often with more subadults than adults), but also congregates in larger numbers (up to ten, possibly more) in flowering trees, where sometimes forages with Meliarchus sclateri and parties of Duchess Lorikeet (Charmosyna margarethae); tends to move away from larger Meliarchus sclateri. Occasionally joins mixed-species flocks (up to three individuals of present species per flock).

Rather quiet. Vocalizations include soft twitters and whispered chirps, “tz, witcher-witcher-witcher” and “churr, churr, churr-chirr, chi chi chi, churr, churr”; song, heard at dawn (twice), a short nasal whistle followed by fast and then slow twitter, “oowae-oo, chit-it-it-it..chit..chit..chit”. Also frequent short sharp contact calls; wheezy upslurred “tweeest” when excited.

Nest with eggs on 5th Sept: nest like that of sunbird (Nectariniidae) but broader and less deep, suspended 10 m above ground from branch of understorey tree. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Restrictedrange species: present in Solomon Group EBA. Poorly known. Considered generally common to abundant; on San Cristobal, very numerous on coast and moderately common inland. Status on Ugi not certain; considered vagrant or occasional visitor, but possible that a resident population exists; study needed.