Bacan Myzomela Myzomela batjanensis

A small honeyeater with a short, downcurved bill. Striking male shows a scarlet head, back, and rump, a contrastingly dark tail and wings, and a whitish belly. Female and juvenile are entirely gray-brown, sometimes with a rusty-red wash on the face and throat. Females and immatures may be confused with Dusky Myzomela, but that species is larger, darker, and lacks red. Males on Obi have a reddish breast, and may represent a separate taxa. Found singly or in pairs at upper levels of montane and hill forest. Song is a short, high-pitched, and buzzy rising series, “bzze-bzee-bzee!-bzeee!-bzeet!” Also gives squeaky “bijee!” Formerly treated as a subspecies of Sulawesi Myzomela.