White-eye

Template:Taxobox begin Template:Taxobox image Template:Taxobox begin placement Template:Taxobox regnum entry Template:Taxobox phylum entry Template:Taxobox classis entry Template:Taxobox ordo entry Template:Taxobox familia entry Template:Taxobox end placement Template:Taxobox section subdivision Cleptornis
Heleia
Hypocryptadius
Lophozosterops
Madanga
Megazosterops
Oculocincta
Rukia
Speirops
Tephrozosterops
Woodfordia
Zosterops
Apalopteron Template:Taxobox end

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 "Wax-eye" or Tauhau, from 1855. The genus Apalopteron, formerly treated in the Meliphagidae, has recently been transferred to the Zosteropidae on genetic evidence.

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.

Species

Black-capped Speirops, Speirops lugubris
Cameroon Speirops, Speirops melanocephalus
Fernando Po Speirops, Speirops brunneus
Principe Speirops, Speirops leucophoeus
African Yellow White-eye, Zosterops senegalensis
Broad-ringed White-eye, Zosterops poliogaster
White-breasted White-eye, Zosterops abyssinicus
Cape White-eye, Zosterops pallidus
Pemba White-eye, Zosterops vaughani
Mayotte White-eye, Zosterops mayottensis
Madagascar White-eye, Zosterops maderaspatanus
Comoro White-eye, Zosterops mouroniensis
Sao Tome White-eye, Zosterops ficedulinus
Annobon White-eye, Zosterops griseovirescens
Mascarene White-eye, Zosterops borbonicus
Reunion White-eye, Zosterops olivaceus
Mauritius White-eye, Zosterops chloronothos
Seychelles White-eye, Zosterops modestus
Sri Lanka White-eye, Zosterops ceylonensis
Chestnut-flanked White-eye, Zosterops erythropleurus
Oriental White-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus
Japanese White-eye, Zosterops japonicus
Lowland White-eye, Zosterops meyeni
Enggano White-eye, Zosterops salvadorii
Bridled White-eye, Zosterops conspicillatus
Caroline Islands White-eye, Zosterops semperi
Plain White-eye, Zosterops hypolais
Black-capped White-eye, Zosterops atricapillus
Everett's White-eye, Zosterops everetti
Yellowish White-eye, Zosterops nigrorum
Mountain White-eye, Zosterops montanus
Christmas Island White-eye, Zosterops natalis
Javan White-eye, Zosterops flavus
Yellow-bellied White-eye, Zosterops chloris
Ashy-bellied White-eye, Zosterops citrinellus
Great Kai White-eye, Zosterops grayi
Little Kai White-eye, Zosterops uropygialis
Sulawesi White-eye, Zosterops consobrinorum
Black-ringed White-eye, Zosterops anomalus
Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Zosterops wallacei
Black-crowned White-eye, Zosterops atrifrons
Sangihi White-eye, Zosterops nehrkorni
Seram White-eye, Zosterops stalkeri
Cream-throated White-eye, Zosterops atriceps
Black-fronted White-eye, Zosterops minor
White-throated White-eye, Zosterops meeki
Black-headed White-eye, Zosterops hypoxanthus
Biak White-eye, Zosterops mysorensis
Capped White-eye, Zosterops fuscicapillus
Buru White-eye, Zosterops buruensis
Ambon White-eye, Zosterops kuehni
New Guinea White-eye, Zosterops novaeguineae
Australian Yellow White-eye, Zosterops luteus
Louisiade White-eye, Zosterops griseotinctus
Rennell White-eye, Zosterops rennellianus
Banded White-eye, Zosterops vellalavella
Ganongga White-eye, Zosterops splendidus
Splendid White-eye, Zosterops luteirostris
Solomon Islands White-eye, Zosterops kulambangrae
Kulambangra White-eye, Zosterops murphyi
Yellow-throated White-eye, Zosterops metcalfii
Grey-throated White-eye, Zosterops rendovae
Malaita White-eye, Zosterops stresemanni
Santa Cruz White-eye, Zosterops santaecrucis
Large Lifou White-eye, Zosterops inornatus
Green-backed White-eye, Zosterops xanthochrous
Small Lifou White-eye, Zosterops minutus
Lord Howe White-eye, Zosterops tephropleurus
Slender-billed White-eye, Zosterops tenuirostris
White-chested White-eye, Zosterops albogularis
Layard's White-eye, Zosterops explorator
Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis
Yellow-fronted White-eye, Zosterops flavifrons
Samoan White-eye, Zosterops samoensis
Dusky White-eye, Zosterops finschii
Grey White-eye, Zosterops cinereus
Yap White-eye, Zosterops oleagineus
Truk White-eye, Rukia ruki
Long-billed White-eye, Rukia longirostra
Golden White-eye, Cleptornis marchei
Rufescent White-eye, Tephrozosterops stalkeri
Rufous-throated White-eye, Madanga ruficollis
Javan Grey-throated White-eye, Lophozosterops javanicus
Streak-headed White-eye, Lophozosterops squamiceps
Grey-hooded White-eye, Lophozosterops pinaiae
Mindanao White-eye, Lophozosterops goodfellowi
White-browed White-eye, Lophozosterops superciliaris
Dark-crowned White-eye, Lophozosterops dohertyi
Pygmy White-eye, Oculocincta squamifrons
Flores White-eye, Heleia crassirostris
Timor White-eye, Heleia muelleri
Mountain Black-eye, Chlorocharis emiliae
Bare-eyed White-eye, Woodfordia superciliosa
Sanford's White-eye, Woodfordia lacertosa
Giant White-eye, Megazosterops palauensis
Cinnamon White-eye Hypocryptadius cinnamomeus
Bonin Honeyeater Apalopteron familiare