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White-eye

White-Eyes

Oriental White-eye
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae
Genera
Speirops
Zosterops
Rukia
Cleptornis
Tephrozosterops
Madanga
Lophozosterops
Oculocincta
Heleia
Woodfordia
Megazosterops
Hypocryptadius
The white-eyes are small passerine birds native to tropical and sub-tropical Africa, southern Asia and Australasia. They also inhabit most of the islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Many white-eye species are endemic to single islands, and the brown-backed species only occur on islands, but some have a very wide distribution. The Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis, naturally colonised New Zealand, where it is known as the Tauhau, from 1855.

The birds of this group are mostly of undistinguished appearance, the plumage above being generally either mouse-coloured or greenish olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. They have rounded wings and strong legs. The size ranges up to 6 inches (15cm) in length.

All the species of white-eyes are sociable, forming large flocks which only separate on the approach of the breeding season. They build tree nests and lay 2-4 unspotted pale blue eggs.

Though mainly insectivorous, they eat nectar and fruits of various kinds. The Silvereye can be a problem in Australian vineyards, through piercing the grape allowing infection or insect damage to follow.

The scientific name of the group derives from the Greek for girdle-eye, and refers to the ring of white feathers round the eyes, which is very conspicuous in many species.