Yellow-vented Myzomela Myzomela eichhorni Scientific name definitions

12–13 cm. Male nominate race is predominantly dark olive-grey above, slightly darker on head and hindneck and darker blackish-olive on wing and tail, with scarlet rump and uppertail-coverts, and prominent yellowish-olive margins on wing-coverts and remiges (pale panel on folded wing); chin and throat scarlet, underbody paler yellow-olive; iris brown to dark brown; bill black; legs horn-coloured (silvery) grey to black, with yellow soles. Female is like male but smaller, with upperparts slightly paler, more olive, scarlet on rump and uppertail-coverts replaced with cinnamon-olive or rufous-olive, scarlet throat patch duller and smaller, underbody paler, buff-olive; outermost tail feathers have pale tips. Juvenile is very dull brown-grey, with no olive-green tinge above or below, and with dark reddish-grey spot in middle of chin and throat; immature plumages not well known, male dark brownish-olive above, darker on top of head, with reddish wash on forehead, cinnamon to rufous rump and uppertail-coverts, olive-cinnamon wing-covert margins, olive edges of remiges and rectrices, dark greyish-olive chin and throat with scarlet feathers in centre, under­body pale cinnamon-olive, tinged buffy olive in centre of belly, largely whitish underwing; immature female apparently like adult but with cinnamon wash throughout (particularly on rump). Races quite similar, differing mainly in overall darkness of plumage: atrata is darker than nominate, dull blackish with olive tinge above, dull blackish-olive below, some males with traces of red on nape; ganongae is intermediate between previous and nominate.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Primary forest and tall secondary forest, and seen also at forest edge bordering village gardens, and in gardens and coconut plantations and groves. On Kolombangara common in all habitats with trees or shrubs, and most abundant in high moss forest; near town of Kena, recorded most often in coastal coconut groves, less often in secondary growth and least often in primary forest. Sea-level to 1500 m or above; more numerous at higher altitudes on Kolombangara.

No information.

Mainly nectar, but also regularly visits ant-plants (myrmecophilous epiphytes) at high altitudes. Said to prefer forest canopy, at least 10 m above ground, but forage also in understorey vegetation. Most reports of small parties, e.g. of up to five in flowering trees, and a family party of adults and two juveniles; up to three seen in mixed-species feeding flocks.

Frequently gives loud, sharp, high-pitched “tzeep”, “bzeet” or “tit-it-tit”; also a sharp “zeeeet-zeeeet” during aerial chasing. Rapid high-pitched trilling song, like that of Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons) but faster and not descending scale.

Free-flying juveniles in late Aug. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Restrictedrange species: present in Solomon Group EBA. Not well known. Considered common to fairly common.