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.