Fiji White-eye

Zosterops explorator

A small, mostly citrine-yellow bird with a pale buffy-gray belly, a bold white eye-ring, and a black line from eye to bill. Bill dark. Most common in heavily forested areas. Silvereye is similar but has gray back and peachy cinnamon underside and prefers open habitats. Common calls include a very high-pitched “seee” and “seeu-seeu.”

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Zosterops explorator
Authority
Layard, EL, 1875
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Zosteropidae
Genus
Zosterops

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
unknown

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Black-capped Antwren

Black-capped Antwren

Herpsilochmus atricapillus

Small, long-tailed antwren of the middle to upper levels of woodlands and dry forests. Males are gray with a contrasting black cap and eyebrow. The tail is black and white-tipped and the wings are black with white bars. In females note the cinnamon forehead, gray back and buff belly. The song is loud and usually given as a duet.

Sooty-capped Babbler

Sooty-capped Babbler

Malacopteron affine

Bland, unremarkable-looking medium-sized babbler of open forest, forest edges, clearings, brushy riparian, and overgrown margins of cultivation in lowland and foothill areas. Extremely generic-looking, with no bright colors, a medium-length tail, and an average bill. Evenly-proportioned body gives it a rather bulbul-like outline. Note unmarked gray face, dark gray crown, dark rufous tail, and faint brownish wash on the chest. Especially similar to Moustached Babbler, but note present species’ darker crown, plain face (no moustache), and more slender bill. Scaly-crowned is also similar, but has a bright rufous patch on the forecrown. Plainly-colored Pellorneum babblers can be confusing, but note differences in proportions and profile. Most frequently-heard song is a beautiful but eerily human-like rising series of even whistles; when duetting, one bird often gives explosive “wik!” calls in response. Also gives a quicker, more cheery, and less human-like version of the song, as well as a short melancholy up-and-down series of whistles.

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Fairly small gull, common and widespread throughout most of North America. Breeding adults are white-headed with a bold black ring around the bill; nonbreeding adults have smudgy brown markings on the head. Note pale eye and yellow legs. Immatures are mottled brownish overall; note pink bill with black tip. Found along lakes, rivers, ponds, and beaches. More common inland than most other gull species, and quite fond of parking lots and urban areas. Often in flocks. Most similar to Short-billed Gull, but larger and larger-billed. Immatures of the two species are especially difficult to differentiate, but Ring-billed is usually more coarsely mottled.

Start Your Bird Watching Journey

Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.