Orange-breasted Myzomela Myzomela jugularis Scientific name definitions

9–11 cm; male 8–10 g, female 8–9 g. Tiny, short-tailed honeyeater with long, rather slender and decurved bill . Male has head and neck mostly black, with crimson rear crown to nape , dull crimson chin and upper throat usually narrowly bordered below by black or blackish band across lower throat, and yellow to orange-yellow wash on throat and upper breast (latter often mottled blackish, particularly in mid-line); upperbody black, scarlet mottling on lower back, rump and uppertail-coverts (or these tracts mostly scarlet with varying black mottling or scaling); uppertail black-brown, varying small white tip most obvious on outer rectrices (becomes much reduced or lost with wear); upperwing black, broad white tips on median secondary coverts and fine off-white to buff tips or terminal fringes on greater coverts (two ill-defined broken wingbars, much reduced or lost with wear), fine yellowish-olive outer edges on remiges (yellowish panel on folded wing); yellowish breast merging into dirty white to pale yellow on rest of underbody, diffusely and inconspicuously mottled blackish on sides and belly; undertail black-brown with broad white tip (reduced or lost with wear), underwing white with olive-brown trailing edge and tip; iris black, brownish-black or dark grey-brown; bill and gape black; legs grey-black to blue-black, soles yellow. Female is similar to male but smaller, duller and less strongly marked, with black of head, neck and upperbody sooty black, sometimes paler on top of head and on face, red of upperparts duller, and red on hindcap, rump and uppertail-coverts much reduced in extent or lacking; upperwing patterned as in male but ground colour duller, sooty black to olive-black; chin and upper throat duller red, yellow wash on lower throat and breast weaker and duller and more strongly mottled blackish. Juvenile lacks red in plumage, similar to female but duller still, with faint olive tinge on lower back to uppertail-coverts, single white wingbar (median coverts), and chin to breast dirty olive-grey (with no red), merging to pale greyish-white below; immature male like adult female but darker above, dark olive-brown to blackish-olive, usually no or at most a few red feather tips on nape and rump to uppertail-coverts, much as adult female below (chin and upper throat duller than adult male); immature female similar to immature male, but red confined to chin and duller, lower throat duller (less yellowish), never any reddish tips on nape or rump.

All habitats, including primary and secondary lowland, hill and montane forest, coastal forest and mangroves; common in disturbed habitats, including roadsides, clearings in forest, plantations and agricultural land, towns, villages and gardens, and scattered trees in open country. On Lakeba, in Lau Group, most abundant in disturbed habitats, especially coastal coconut plantation and mixed and pure pine woodland; decline in relative abundance with maturity of forest, being less numerous in secondary forest on carbonate rock and scarcest in mid-successional to late-successional forest on limestone. In Lomaiviti Group, recorded in all habitats on Gau and Makogai, including mature secondary scrub-forest with virtually no herb layer (grazed by goats) and coconut plantations on Makogai, and dense mature rainforest on Gau. On Viti Levu recorded from 30 m to 1310 m; from near sea-level to 970 m on Taveuni.

Mostly sedentary; in dry areas of W Viti Levu undertakes local movements, sometimes in small flocks, and can be absent for months before reappearing.

Mainly nectar ; also takes many arthropods, including spiders (Araneae) and insects. Forages at all heights, from low herbs and shrubs up to canopy of tall forest, occasionally on ground; active, even appearing frenetic at times, darting between flowering plants and hopping among small branches and foliage. Takes nectar from wide variety of flowers (e.g. hibiscus, and introduced weed Stachytarpheta), by probing while perched, while hanging or while sally-hovering; occasionally pierces flower bases with bill. Gleans insects and spiders from on and around flowers and small branches; on Lakeba, common in nectar-poor habitats of pine woodland and suggested as largely insectivorous in these habitats. Normally seen singly, in twos (probably pairs) or in small groups; can gather in large numbers (30 or more) in flowering trees, when spend much time in chasing. Displaced by larger honeyeaters and by Collared Lory (Phigys solitarius).

Frequently a strident “chit-chit” or “sweet-sweet” , especially from flocks, which can produce almost continuous high-pitched trilling. Song a phrase of 2–4 syllables “tee-ter”, “tzwee-tzwee”, “tsu-tzwee-tzwee” or “tsee-oop-tee-dee”, uttered monotonously (sometimes aggravatingly) by male from songpost, usually high in tree, for an hour or more; monotonous “tzit” punctuated by higher “tchee” possibly also describes song. Flight call “tee-too, tee-too-tee…”; another call a high-pitched “tee-tee-tee-tee”. Fledged young beg with squeaky “see see”.

Recorded in all months except Mar–Apr; possibly double-brooded. Nest a fragile and loosely built cup made of grasses and fine rootlets, suspended between vertical stems among dense foliage of shrub, vine or small tree, usually below 4 m. Clutch 2 eggs; no information on incubation and nestling periods; young fed by both parents; family parties of adults and single young observed.

Not globally threatened. Restrictedrange species: present in Fiji EBA. Common to abundant, e.g. common on Makogai and Gau, in Lomaiviti Group. Often found in modified habitats. Old reports from Samoa unsubstantiated.