Lesser streaked honeyeater facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dark-eared myza
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Meliphagidae
Genus:	Myza
Species:	M. celebensis
Binomial name
Myza celebensis (Meyer, AB & Wiglesworth, 1894)
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The dark-eared myza (Myza celebensis) is a special kind of bird. It's also known as the lesser streaked honeyeater. This bird belongs to the Meliphagidae family, which includes many honeyeaters. You can only find it on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia.

There are two main types, or subspecies, of the dark-eared myza. One lives in the mountains of northern, central, and southeastern Sulawesi. The other lives in the mountains of southern Sulawesi.

The Dark-eared Myza: A Unique Bird

What Does It Look Like?

Both male and female dark-eared myzas look quite similar. However, male birds are usually a bit heavier than females. They also have slightly longer heads, beaks, wings, and tails. An adult male is about 17 cm (6.7 in) long. It weighs around 21 g (0.7 oz), which is about the weight of a few coins.

The head and neck of this bird are grey or olive-green. They have dark brown streaks. Its beak is dark, long, and curves downwards. Around its dark eye, there's a patch of bare, yellowish skin. The back, wings, and tail are brown. They also have darker brown streaks. The feathers on its belly are brown too, but with fewer streaks. Birds living in the southern parts of Sulawesi tend to have a greyer color overall.

Where Does It Live and What Does It Eat?

The dark-eared myza lives in forests. You can find it in mountainous areas of Sulawesi. In the north, it lives at heights from 900 metres (3,000 ft) up to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft). In the south, it can be found even higher, up to 2,500 metres (8,200 ft).

This bird loves to eat from flowers. It darts quickly from one flower to another. It is searching for nectar, which is a sweet liquid found in plants.

Is It Endangered?

The dark-eared myza is quite common in the mountains of Sulawesi. The area where it lives is very large. It covers about 42,100 square kilometres (16,300 sq mi).

Because it is common and lives in such a big area, experts are not worried about it disappearing. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists it as "least concern". This means it is not considered threatened or endangered. You might even spot this bird at the Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve on Sulawesi.