Mount Cameroon speirops

Speirops melanocephalus

Photo by Morten Venaas (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Mount Cameroon speirops (en); olho-branco-dos-Camarões (pt); zostérops du Cameroun (fr); anteojitos del Camerún (es); Kamerunbrillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Zosteropidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the slopes of Mount Cameroon, in south-western Cameroon.

Size:
These birds are 13 cm long and weigh 9-12,5 g.

Habitat:
The Mount Cameroon speirops in mostly found in open, moist tropical forests, forest clearings, and in areas with scattered trees within grassland or scrubland. They generally avoid denser, closed-canopy areas. They occur al altitudes of 1.800-3.000 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on insects, also taking berries and other vegetable matter.

Breeding:
These birds possibly breed in November-March. There is no further information on the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a small breeding range and the global population is estimated 6.000-15.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats, but the regular burning of grassland by hunters, which extend to destroy large areas of forest, may peril the habitat of the species within its narrow altitudinal belt. Since 2009, most of the breeding range of the Mount Cameroon speirops became part of the Mount Cameroon National Park.

Black-capped white-eye

Zosterops atricapilla

Photo by Lip Kee Yap (Wikipedia)

Common name:
black-capped white-eye (en); olho-branco-de-barrete-preto (pt); zostérops à calotte noire (fr); anteojitos capirotado (es); schwarzstirn-brillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Zosteropidae

Range:
This species is found along the mountains of western Sumatra and in central and north-eastern Borneo, both in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Size:
These birds are 9,5-10 cm long and weigh 8,5-11 g.

Habitat:
The black-capped white-eye is mostly found in mountain rainforests, also using rainforests at lower altitudes and high-altitude grasslands. They are present at altitudes of 1.500-3.000 m, occasionally coming down to just 700 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on adult and larval insects, but also take fruits, berries and nectar.

Breeding:
These birds possibly breed in April-June. The nest is a small cup placed in a tree, where the female lays 2-4 pale blue eggs. There is no information regarding the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as locally very common on high mountain tops in Sumatra. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation.

Thick-billed white-eye

Heleia crassirostris

Photo by Oleg Chernyshov (Flickr)

Common name:
thick-billed white-eye (en); olho-branco-de-bico-grosso (pt); zostérops à bec fort (fr); anteojitos picogordo (es); nacktaugen-brillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Zosteropidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Indonesia, only being found in the islands of Flores and Sumbawa.

Size:
These birds are 13-13,5 cm long.

Habitat:
The thick-billed white-eye is mostly found in lowland rainforests, but also uses mountain rainforests, dry tropical forests and moist tropical scrublands.

Diet:
Although not much is known about these birds, they most likely eat fruits and insects.

Breeding:
Nothing is know about the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is reported to be generally uncommon and locally moderately common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation.

Pygmy white-eye

Oculocincta squamifrons

Photo by Yeo Siew Teck (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:
pygmy white-eye (en); olho-branco-anão (pt); zostérops pygmée (fr); anteojitos pigmeo (es); zwergbrillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passerformes
Family Zosteropidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the island of Borneo, being found in the central and northern parts of the islands, both in Indonesia and in Malaysia.

Size:
These birds are 10 cm long.

Habitat:
The pygmy white-eye is mostly found in mountain rainforests, also using high altitude tropical scrublands.

Diet:
They feed on small berries, fruits, seeds and insects, often taking part in mixed-species foraging flocks.

Breeding:
There is no available information regarding the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as locally quite common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation.

Australian yellow white-eye

Zosterops luteus

Photo by Deane Lewis (Australian Nature Photography)

Common name:
Australian yellow white-eye (en); olho-branco-de-ventre-amarelo (pt); zostérops à ventre jaune (fr); anteojitos australiano (es); mangrovebrillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Zosteropidae

Range:
This species is found along the northern coast of Australia, from Shark Bay in north-western Western Australia to Townsville in north-eastern Queensland.

Size:
These birds are 9,5-12 cm long and weigh 8,5-11,5 g.

Habitat:
The Australian yellow white-eye is mostly found in mangroves and nearby swamps and marshes, but also use moist tropical forests and even gardens in coastal towns.

Diet:
They feed on various insects and their larvae, namely mosquitoes and midges, as well as spiders, snails and other small invertebrates, nectar, seeds and fruit pulp.

Breeding:
These birds can breed all year round, but mostly in September-March. The nest is a deep cup made of grasses, lined with fine roots and bound together with spider webs, and often with pieces of bark on the outside. It is placed in an horizontal fork of a mangrove tree overhanging water. The female lays 2-3 pale bluish-green or white eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 9-12 days. The chicks fledge 10-11 days after hatching, but remain with their parents for another 2-3 weeks.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is reported to be generally quite common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Seychelles white-eye

Zosterops modestus

Photo by Johann Mols (National Geographic)

Common name:
Seychelles white-eye (en); olho-branco-das-Seychelles (pt); zostérops des Seychelles (fr); anteojitos de Seychelles (es); Mahé-brillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Zosteropidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Mahé, in the Seychelles archipelago, only being found in a few small patches in the centre and north of the island and in the offshore islet of Conception. In recent years some birds have been translocated and established small population on Frégate Island, North island and Cousine.

Size:
These bird are 10-11 cm long and weigh 8-10 g.

Habitat:
In Conception the Seychelles white-eye is found in dense tropical woodlands, while in Mahé they are mostly found in man-made habitats, such as farmland, urban areas, orchards and also along the edges of forests and scrublands.

Diet:
They feed mainly on insects, but also take berries and nectar.

Breeding:
Seychelles white-eyes breed in September-April. They nest on a small cup where the female lays 2-7 eggs. The eggs are incubated for 13-15 days and the chicks fledge 11-16 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - EN (Endangered)
This species has an extremely small and fragmented breeding range, and the global population is estimated at just 50-250 individuals. The population is increasing moderately, especially in the offshore islands. The Seychelles white-eye nearly went extinct due to loss of native vegetation and invasion by alien plant species, as well as nest predation by introduced black rats Rattus rattus and common mynas Acridotheres tristis. Conservation actions have focused on the erradication of rats and restoration of native vegetation, as well as the translocation of individuals to rat-free islands, which successfully halted the population decline. However, this species is still threatened by fires, diseases and is very vulnerable to stochastic events due to the very small and fragmented range and population.

Rota bridled white-eye

Zosterops rotensis

Photo by Lainie Berry (Rota Avian Behavioral Ecology Program)

Common name
Rota bridled white-eye (en); olho-branco-de-Rota (pt); zostérops de Rota (fr); anteojitos de la Rota (es); rotabrillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Zosteropidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the island of Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands, where it is mostly restricted to the Sabana plateau.

Size:
These birds are 10 cm long and weigh 9-10 g.

Habitat:
The Rota bridled white-eye is found in native wet limestone forests, preferring Hernandia labyrinthica mixed forest and Merrilliodendron megacarpum forests. They are present at altitudes of 100-490 m.

Diet:
They feed on insects, fruits, seeds and nectar. Their prey include moths and caterpillars, snails, spiders, beetles, mayflies and katydids.

Breeding:
These birds breed in December-August. The nest is a small cup made of rootlets, grasses, plant fibres, spider webs and moss. The nest is suspended between the branches and leaf petioles of trees such as Hernandia, Merrilliodendron, and Elaeocarpus. The female lays 1-3 eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 10-12 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10-12 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - CR (Critically Endangered)
The Rota bridled white-eye has an extremely small breeding range and a global population estimated at just 730 individuals. In the 1980s and 1990s the population was estimated to have declined at a dramatic rate of 50-75% per decade, but there is some anecdotal evidence that it may have increased in recent years. The main threats include habitat loss and degradation
owing to agricultural activities, development, typhoons and use of pesticides, as well as the introduction of predators such as the brown tree snake Boiga irregularis, the Asian house rat Rattus tanezumi, the Polynesian rats Rattus exulans and the black drongo Dicrurus macrocercus.

Mauritius olive white-eye

Zosterops chloronothos

Photo by Mike Pope (World Birds)

Common name:
Mauritius olive white-eye (en); olho-branco-da-ilha-Maurícia (pt); zostérops de Maurice (fr); anteojitos de Mauricio (es); Mauritius-brillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Zosteropidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the island of Mauritius, presently being confined to the a small area on the south-west of the Black River Gorges National Park.

Size:
These birds are 8-10 cm long and weigh around 8 g.

Habitat:
They are mostly restricted to native upland rainforests, but can also be found in forest clearings and nearby plantations. They are present at altitudes of 200-600 m.

Diet:
The Mauritius olive white-eye feeds mainly on the nectar of Syzygium jambos, Litsea monopetala, Rubus alceifolius and Ligustrum robustum, but also takes fruits, insects and other invertebrates.

Breeding:
These birds breed in August-March. They nest in a small cup made of grasses and palm fibres and moss, woven onto the branches of a tree. There the female lays 2-3 eggs which are incubated for 12-13 days. There is no information regarding the fledging period, but it lasts 11-16 days in the closely related Seychelles white-eye Zosterops modestus.


Conservation:
IUCN status - CR (Critically Endangered)
This species has a very small breeding range and the global population is estimated at just 190-296 individuals. The population has been declining at a rapid rate in recent decades, mainly due to habitat destruction and degradation caused by the introduction of exotic plants, and predation by introduced mammals and birds, such as rats and red-whiskered bulbuls Pycnonotus jocosus and also native Mauritius black bulbuls Hypsipetes olivaceus. Intensive management action including predator control at nest sites, rescue of wild nests, artificial incubation and hand-rearing of offspring, and a trial release of birds to the predator-free, restored offshore islet Ile aux Aigrettes have had some success in halting further population declines in this species.

Oriental white-eye

Zosterops palpebrosus

Photo by Rajiv Lather (Birding in India and South Asia)

Common name:
oriental white-eye (en); olho-branco-oriental (pt); zostérops oriental (fr); anteojitos oriental (es); Ganges-brillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Zosteropidae

Range:
This species is found in southern Asia, from Pakistan and India to southern China and south to southern Indonesia.

Size:
These birds are 8-11 cm long and weigh 8-10 g.

Habitat:
Oriental white-eyes  are  found moist tropical forests, mangroves and moist scrublands.

Diet:
They mainly feed on small insects, especially ants, but also the nectar, fruits, seeds, buds and pollen of plants such as giant mahang Macaranga gigantea, umbrella tree Schefflera actinophylla and pink mempat Cratoxylum formosum.

Breeding:
The oriental white-eye breeds in February-September. The nest is a compact cup made of grass, plant fibres, roots and cotton down and spider webs, usually placed in a fork in a scrub or trees 1–10 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-3 pale blue eggs, which are incubated for 10-11 days. The chicks are fed and brooded by both parents and fledge about 10 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation of forest and mangrove habitats, as well as illegal trapping for the cage bird trade.

Japanese white-eye

Zosterops japonicus

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Common name:
Japanese white-eye (en); olho-branco-do-Japão (pt); zostérops du Japon (fr); anteojitos japonés (es); Japanbrillenvogel (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Zosteropidae


Range:
This species is found breeding in Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Laos. Some populations migrate south to winter in Myanmar and Thailand. The Japanese white-eye has been introduced to Hawaii.


Size:
These birds are 10-12 cm long and weigh 10-13 g.


Habitat:
Japanese white-eyes are found in temperate forests, moist tropical and sub-tropical forests, rural gardens and in urban areas.


Diet:
They mostly glean small invertebrates from foliage, namely beetles, fly larvae and spiders, but will also take seeds, nectar and fruits.


Breeding:
The Japanese white-eye can breed almost all year round, varying between different parts of its range. The nest is a neatly woven cup, made of grass, plant material, string, tin foil, leaves, mosses, and attached to a fork in a branch with spiders webs. There the female lays 2-5 pale blue eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 11 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10-12 days after hatching, but remain with their parents for another 2-3 weeks.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the impacts of habitat modification on population sizes.

Cape white-eye

Zosterops pallidus

(Photo from Flickrhivermind)

Common name:
Cape white-eye (en); olho-branco-do-Cabo (pt); zostérops clair (fr); anteojitos de El Cabo (es); Kapbrillenvogel (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Zosteropidae


Range:
This species is found throughout most of South Africa, with the exception of the kalahari desert, and it expands into southern Mozambique, south-eastern Mozambique and Namibia.


Size:
These birds are 12 cm long and weigh 10-12 g.


Habitat:
Cape white-eyes are found in a wide variety of habitats including dry savannas, evergreen forests, dune scrubland, inland wetlands, rural gardens, plantations and urban gardens.


Diet:
They are mostly insectivorous, often eating aphids, but also termite alates, butterflies, beetles, spiders and mantids. They also eat the fruits and nectar of various plants including wild figs and other native species, as well as introduced agricultural crops like oranges, pears, blackberries, plums and grapes.


Breeding:
The Cape white-eye breeds in August-April. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a small cup made of lichens, dry grass, rootlets, tendrils and other dry plant fibres, bound together with spider webs. The nest is concealed in the foliage of a tree or bush. The female lays 2-4 pale blue eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for 10-12 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 12-13 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as very common to uncommon. The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the impacts of habitat modification on population sizes.

Silvereye

Zosterops lateralis

Photo by J.J. Harrison (Wikipedia)

Common name:

silvereye (en); olho-branco-de-dorso-cinzento (pt); zostérops à dos gris (fr); ojiblanco de lomo gris (es); graumantel-brillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Zosteropidae

Range:

These birds are found in eastern and southern Australia, in New Zealand, and in the south-west Pacific islands of Lord Howe, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji.

Size:

They are 10-12 cm long and weigh 11-13 g.

Habitat:

Silvereyes are found in almost any wooded habitats within their range, generally favouring commercial orchards and urban parks and gardens. They may also be found in dry scrublands and grasslands and are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.850 m.

Diet:

They feed on fruits and berries, nectar and various invertebrates including aphids and scale insects.

Breeding:

Silvereyes breed in August-February. Both sexes build the nest, a small, neatly woven cup of grasses, hair, and other fine vegetation, bound with spider web. The nest is placed in a horizontal tree fork up to 5 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-4 bluish-green eggs which are incubated by both parents for 11-12 days. The chicks are fed and cared for by both parents and fledge 14-16 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 3-4 weeks later. Each pair may raise 1-3 broods per season.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, the species is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Golden white-eye

Cleptornis marchei

Photo by Peter Bonser (Archive)

Common name:

golden white-eye (en); olho-branco-dourado (pt); zostérops doré (fr); pájaro de miel dourado (es); goldhonigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Zosteropidae

Range:

This species is endemic to the Northern Mariana Islands, occurring on the islands of Saipan and Aguijan.

Size:

This large white-eye is 14 cm long and weighs 20 g.

Habitat:

The golden white-eye is mostly found in native forests, particularly limestone forests in the steep slopes and cliffs of the islands, but it also occurs in open scrubland and suburban areas.

Diet:

It forages predominantly in the foliage of trees, particularly Cynometra ramifolia, feeding on invertebrates, flying insects, nectar, fruit and flowers and also taking insects from tree bark.

Breeding:

The golden white-eye can breed all year round, with a peak in March-July. The species is monogamous, nesting in simple undecorated cups of casuarina needles, grasses, and vines. There the female lays 2 blue-green eggs with brown splotches, which are incubated by both parents for 14 days. The chicks are fed insects and caterpillars by both parents and fledge 10-14 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - CR (Critically Endangered)

This species has an extremely restricted breeding range and the global population, currently estimated at 58.000 individuals, is likely to undergo an extremely rapid population decline following the recent establishment of the brown tree snake Boiga irregularis on Saipan. Beside the predation pressure caused by this alien snake, the other main threat facing the species is climate change and the consequent sea-level rise. Conservation measures are under-way, namely controlling the brown tree snake population and capturing golden white-eyes to begin a captive breeding programme and the potential establishiment of new populations on additional islands of the Marianas.

African yellow white-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Photo by Thierry Helsens (Oiseaux)

Common name:

African yellow white-eye (en); olho-branco-amarelo (pt); zostérops jaune (fr); anteojitos senegalés (es); Senegalbrillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Zosteropidae

Range:

This African species occurs across much of sub-Saharan Africa, absent only from the Congo basin and very arid areas.

Size:

African yellow white-eyes are 11-12 cm long and weigh 10 g.

Habitat:

They generally prefer well-wooded habitats, especially miombo Brachystegia, Zambezi teak Baikiaea plurijuga and mohobohobo Uapaca woodland, also occupying swamps with interspersed trees, thorny scrub, Eucalyptus plantations, suburban parks and gardens.

Diet:

They mainly eats insects, including caterpillars, termites and aphids, doing most of its foraging in the tree canopy, gleaning prey from leaves and branches. They also eat fruits.

Breeding:

African yellow white-eyes breed in August-January, with a peak in September-October. The nest is a small cup built of dried grass and small twigs, secured with spider web. It is typically placed in the foliage of a sapling, often about 3-5 m above ground in the shade. There the female lays 2-4 eggs, which are incubated by both parents for about 11-12 days. The chicks are cared for by both parents, fledging 13-14 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Christmas white-eye

Zosterops natalis

Photo by Jeff Blincow (Christmas Island Wildlife)

Common name:

Christmas white-eye (en); olho-branco-de-Natal (pt); zostérops de Christmas (fr); anteojitos de la Navidad (es); weißstirn-brillenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Zosteropidae

Range:

This species in endemic to Christmas Island. It has been introduced to Horsburgh island, in the southern Cocos Islands. 

Size:
These tiny birds are 11-13 cm long. They weigh 10-11,5 g.

Habitat:

It is found in all forested habitats on Christmas Island up to an altitude of 360 m. It also occurs in suburban gardens and weeds fields in abandoned mine sites.

Diet:

They are mostly insectivorous, often seen hunting small Hemiptera, namely scale insects. They may also eat nectar and small fruits.

Breeding:

The Christmas white-eye mostly breeds during the wet season in November-May. They build a small open cup in a bush, where the female lays 2-3 pale blue eggs. The incubation time is 13-15 days and the young are fully fledged after 11-16 days. The parents continue to care for the young after fledging, for up to 2 months.

Conservation:

IUCN status – VU (Vulnerable)

Although the species is abundant in Christmas Island, their breeding range is very small and their population is estimated at 20.000 individuals. They are threatened by habitat loss and the introduction of exotic species.