Makira White-eye
Zosterops rendovae
Small social songbird, often encountered foraging in upper levels of forest. Mostly olive-green above with a yellow undertail. Belly, chest, and throat gray. Note the smudgy black patch in front of the eye. Found in forest and forest edge from 500 to 2000 meters of elevation, but down to 50 meters of elevation on Makira. Similar to Yellow-throated White-eye, but upperparts less yellow and throat gray. Common calls include a loud mellow “peeeu” and high-pitched “peep-peep” foraging calls.
Identification
The Makira white-eye (Zosterops rendovae), also known as the grey-throated white-eye, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family, Zosteropidae. It is also known as Zosterops ugiensis because Z. rendovae has often been used for the Solomons white-eye (Z. kulambangrae). It is endemic to the island of Makira in the Solomon Islands archipelago. The Guadalcanal white-eye (Z. oblitus) on Guadalcanal and Bougainville white-eye (Z. hamlini) on Bougainville were formerly considered subspecies, but are now considered distinct species. It inhabits primary forest, mainly at 900–2000 m above sea-level but small numbers occur at lower levels. It is a small bird, 12–13 cm long. It is fairly dark green above with a brownish tail, a variable dark brown area between the eye and bill and a narrow white ring around the eye. The underparts are dark grey apart from the green chin, pale centre to the belly and yellow undertail-coverts. The bill is blackish with a pale base to the lower mandible.
Taxonomy
Genus: Zosterops; Family: Zosteropidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Zosterops rendovae
- Authority
- Tristram, 1882
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Zosteropidae
- Genus
- Zosterops
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Oriental Cuckoo
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Typical gray cuckoo, indistinguishable from Himalayan Cuckoo in the field by plumage. Dark bands on the breast average broader in Oriental. Both also extremely similar to Common and Lesser cuckoos, but with buffy rather than white vent. Brownish-yellow iris readily distinguishes Oriental from the smaller, darker-eyed Lesser Cuckoo. Best identified by song, a mellow series of “boop-boop” notes, given in flight or from a high (often concealed) perch. When not singing, quiet and unobtrusive, foraging solitarily in upper and middle levels of boreal forest and mixed woodlands.
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Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
A small bird with a long curved bill. Adults have an obvious dark cap (black on males and gray on females) and mask with dark marks down the side of the chest. Note the white corners to the fanned tail that can be obvious in flight. Young birds are plain buff-colored underneath and plain brown above. Young birds could be confused with female Scarlet Myzomela (Scarlet Honeyeater), but note longer bill of spinebill. Eastern Spinebills are active and fast, darting around quickly between flowering trees in wetter forested areas as well as parks and gardens. Voice is a loud repetitive piping whistle.
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