Scarlet Myzomela

1. Males show bright scarlet on the head, nape, and upper breast, with black wings and a central red stripe down the back.

2. Females are mostly brown with subtle reddish or pinkish hints on the face and throat.

3. Both sexes have a slender, down-curved bill and are often detected by their high-pitched, bell-like tinkling calls.

Scarlet Myzomelas are omnivorous, feeding primarily on nectar from native trees and shrubs, but also taking insects and spiders, particularly when feeding young. They are agile foragers, often hovering or darting among blossoms. Breeding occurs from July to January, with pairs building small, delicate cup-shaped nests from shredded bark and spider web, usually high in dense foliage or mistletoe. Females typically lay two, sometimes three, white eggs flecked with red-brown or grey, and both parents feed the nestlings. Up to three broods may be raised in a single season if conditions are favourable. Scarlet Myzomelas are territorial, with males singing from treetops to defend their feeding and nesting areas. They may be displaced by larger honeyeater species at flowering sites.

Scarlet Myzomelas are found along the eastern coastline of Australia, from Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland to Gippsland in Victoria. They inhabit a range of environments including eucalypt forests, woodlands, rainforests, and urban gardens, but are most often seen in areas with abundant flowering trees such as eucalypts, bottlebrushes, and paperbarks. In the southern parts of their range, they migrate northward during winter, while northern populations are more sedentary. These birds are most active high in the canopy, especially during flowering events.