Myzomela nigrita Gray, GR, 1858

Male nominate race is wholly glossy black, except for white axillaries and largely white underwing with silvery grey-brown trailing edge and tip, iris brown to light brown, bill black, thin yellowish gape on at least some, legs dark grey, sometimes tinged yellow, sole yellow. Female is smaller than male, plumage olive-brown to grey-brown, paler below, with reddish to rosy wash on forehead, lores, anterior cheek, and chin and upper throat. Juvenile undescribed, immature male appears to vary, some with head, neck and upper breast black with few scattered olive-brown flecks, merging to lack body strongly mottled with light olive-brown, and with brown-tinged black upperwing and tail, others entirely black except for small area of rose-red on chin, some like adult female, yet others apparently dark brown to grey-black with dull red to rufous forehead, immature female doubtfullz separable from adult in field. Races differ in plumage tona and pattern and in size.