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.