Description
The Red-headed Myzomela is a distinctive small honeyeater with a compact body, short tail and relatively long down-curved bill. It averages 12 centimetres (4.7 in), with a wingspan of 17–19 centimetres (6.7–7.5 in) and a weight of 8 grams (0.28 oz). The birds exhibit sexual dimorphism, with males being slightly larger and much more brightly coloured than the females.
The adult male has a dark red head, neck, lower back and rump; the red is glossy, reflecting bright light. The rest of the upper body is a blackish-brown, and the upper breast and under-body a light brownish-grey. The bill is black or blackish-brown, and there is a distinct black loral stripe that extends to become a narrow eye ring. The adult female's head and neck are grey-brown with a pink-red tint to the forehead and chin. The rest of the female's upper body is grey-brown with darker shades on the wings and lighter shades on the breast and under-body. One study suggested a connection between the female's bill colour and breeding status, with birds that had a horn-coloured bill also having well-developed brood patches. Juveniles are similar to females though with an obvious pale yellow edge to the lower mandible. It seems that males keep their juvenile plumage for up to three months, and take a similar period to come into full colour. The subspecies are similar in appearance to the nominate race however M. e. dammermani is slightly smaller than the other subspecies and has darker upper parts and a broad black pectoral band and M. e. infuscata has red extending from the rump onto the back.
The Red-headed Myzomela has a range of contact calls and songs that are primarily metallic or scratchy. Its song is an abrupt 'tchwip-tchwip-tchwip-tchwip' with a slightly softer 'swip-swip-swip-swip' contact call and a scolding 'charrk-charrk'.
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