Cape White-eye
Zosterops virens
A small, active, mostly yellow-green warbler-like bird with an obvious white eye-ring. The two races have different breast and belly coloration: gray in the south and greenish in the north. Pairs are common in all habitats, where they form a strong component of mixed-species flocks. A sweet, rolling reedy warble that is disjointed and rambling is often the first sign that they are around. The Cape White-eye is similar to the Yellow White-eye, which has more lemon-colored underparts, and the Orange River White-eye, which has peach-colored flanks.
Taxonomy
There are two subspecies:<p>These subspecies interbreed where they come into contact.<p>The Orange River white-eye (Z. pallidus) has been split from the Cape white-eye.
- Scientific name
- Zosterops virens
- Authority
- Sundevall, 1850
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Zosteropidae
- Genus
- Zosterops
Range and habitat
It is found in a wide range of densely to lightly wooded habitats in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini and marginally in Mozambique. Most populations are resident, but some perform minor seasonal movements.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
This is a sociable species forming large flocks outside the breeding season. It builds a cup nest in a tree and lays 2-3 unspotted pale blue eggs. The eggs hatch in 11–12 days, and fledging occurs in another 12–13 days. The peak breeding season is September to December.<p>The Cape white-eye feeds mainly on insects, but also soft fleshy flowers, nectar, fruit and small grains. It readily comes to bird feeders.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Tinkling Cisticola
Cisticola rufilatus
Medium-sized, streak-backed, long-tailed cisticola of uplands. Note the rufous cap and pale stripe above the eye. Found in miombo, other types of woodland, and savanna. Inconspicuous, and usually seen singly or in pairs. Song is a series of very high-pitched notes. Calls include quick trills and ascending slurs. Similar to Rattling Cisticola, but smaller, longer-tailed, and brighter rufous on the head, with a more prominent stripe above the eye. As with all cisticolas, habitat and voice are important cues in identification.
Scottish Crossbill
Loxia scotica
Crossed bill tips give crossbills their name. Only found in pine forests of Scotland, where uncommon and local. As a rule, not safely identified in the field because it looks intermediate between smaller-billed Common (Red) Crossbill and bigger-billed Parrot Crossbill (both of which can occur in same areas). With experience (and computer analysis!), may be identified by voice. Like other crossbills, found in pairs or flocks feeding quietly on pine cones or calling excitedly before taking off in wide-ranging, bounding flight. Male plumage reddish overall; female grayish green overall, with brighter rump.
Austral Rail
Rallus antarcticus
Scarce, very local, and rarely seen rail of Patagonia. Found in fresh marshes and lake edges with tall reeds and rushes. Sometimes comes out to feed at edges of reeds early and late in the day, but mainly detected by voice. No similar species in range: note the striped back, barred flanks, and red bill. Plumbeous Rail is larger with plain plumage and a greenish bill.
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