Black-breasted Myzomela Myzomela vulnerata Scientific name definitions

10·5 cm. Distinctive and striking: has broad black mask across lores, malar area, narrowly over eye and side of neck and joining black breastband and black of mantle, back and scapulars, isolating scarlet cap and scarlet patch on chin and throat ; rump and uppertail-coverts scarlet, uppertail blackish; upperwing mostly blackish, narrow greyish margins on coverts and remiges forming diffuse pale panel on folded wing (pale fringes on coverts much reduced with wear, but pale panel on remiges remains distinct); underbody below breastband white to greyish-white; iris blackish; bill and gape black; legs black. Sexes similar in plumage, male apparently larger; female black lacks gloss, faded to sooty-brown; juvenile black parts are greyer (1 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2016). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ).

Timor, in E Lesser Sundas.

Mainly secondary monsoon forest and scrub, also in primary forest. Recorded from sea-level up to 1300 m.

Probably sedentary, with possibility of local movements.

Mainly nectar, also insects. Forages mostly from middle storey to canopy; at flowers in trees (including Eucalyptus) and other plants. Very active, but inconspicuous and infrequently observed; singly or in twos (probably pairs).

Weak, high-pitched insect-like note, repeated monotonously at intervals of c. 1 second, “sit-sit-sit-…”; rapidly repeated series of similarly toned disyllabic notes, “tipa-tipa-tia-tipa-…”, second syllable lower than first.

Female carrying food in early Dec, and immatures or juveniles seen on three dates through May; extrapolated months of laying Mar–Apr and Nov. No other information.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: present in Timor and Wetar EBA. Generally moderately common, and locally very common.