New South Wales Birds > NSW Birds Index
A passerine bird of the family Meliphagidae, the Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta) is native to Australia, and is found along the east coast of Australia, stretching from Cooktown in Queensland down through to Gippsland in Victoria, although It is less common south of Sydney.
The Scarlet Honeyeater is also commonly known as the Scarlet Myzomela.
The male and female are dimorphic. The head of the male Scarlet Honeyeaters is scarlet head, except for their dark lores, a scarlet chest and all scarlet back, down to the rump. The scarlet colour becomes white towards the belly and vent. The wings are dark-grey, with white edge-lining of the flight feathers and the tail is dark-grey. They have a long, slightly down-curved bill that is black.
The female Scarlet Honeyeaters are mostly a greyish-brown colour, and have a cream-coloured belly and vent. The females have a reddish tint on their cheeks and chin, with wing feathers that are dark grey-brown. Their long, slightly down-curved bill is dark-grey.
The eyes of both male and female have dark-brown irises, whilst the legs and feet are grey.
The juvenile Scarlet Honeyeaters are similar to females, but are browner overall. When the young male Scarlet Honeyeaters moult into adult plumage, they can have a patchy scarlet appearance.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Meliphagidae
- Genus: Myzomela
- Species: Myzomela sanguinolenta
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