Kirk's White-eye
Zosterops kirki
A small, sharp-billed warbler-like bird. Note the completely yellow underparts and the broad white spectacles around the eye. Common in habitats with woody vegetation, including humid forest, plantations, woodland, scrub, and gardens. Usually found in hyperactive flocks. Very similar to Comoro White-eye, and they overlap at the lower reaches of the montane heath zone. Kirk’s White-eye is separated by being slightly smaller and brighter overall, especially on the yellow underparts and above the bill, and most importantly by the broader white eye-ring. The most common calls are a high-pitched, rising rattle and a descending “chew” note, which is also the main component of the quiet, chatty song.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Zosterops kirki
- Authority
- Shelley, 1880
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Zosteropidae
- Genus
- Zosterops
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
The bird is not currently threatened in its small, one-island territory. Within their territory, they are commonly spotted even in bird-poor plantations. Although, they are extinct from Mt Karthala and replaced by Z. mouroniensis.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Spix's Guan
Penelope jacquacu
Large, stocky brown bird. Largely arboreal, but often seems too large or clumsy for its tree-dwelling habits. Calls loudly when flushing from a tree and makes crashing noises as it lands roughly in another tree. Found around forest edges and young forest as well as in more mature forests. Typically found singly or in pairs, occasionally in larger groups. Larger and darker than chachalacas with more prominent red skin on throat.
Flat-billed Kingfisher
Todiramphus recurvirostris
A compact kingfisher with a comparatively short, shallow, wide bill. Has deep blue wings, a greenish-blue back, and a blue cap with buffy white in front of the eye that narrows above it to form an eyebrow. Underparts washed cinnamon. Found in most habitats, even urban parks and gardens. Local subspecies of Pacific Kingfisher is larger, with a noticeably heavier, thicker bill and much cleaner white underparts. Flat-billed’s voice is a series of short, sharp “kik” notes.
Nubian Woodpecker
Campethera nubica
Mid-sized green-backed woodpecker with intricate patterning. The crown is red in males, red and white-speckled black in females. Note the heavily streaked ear, bold spotting below, and plain white throat. Generally common and conspicuous in most types of savanna habitat. Usually in pairs, which give a loud duet of “keek” notes. Very similar to Bennett’s Woodpecker, but separated by the black-streaked ear. Also similar to Golden-tailed and Mombasa Woodpeckers, but easily separated by the spotted rather than striped underparts.
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