Ambon White-eye

Zosterops kuehni

The Ambon White-eye (*Zosterops kuehni*) is a captivating small passerine, a jewel entirely endemic to the lush forests of Ambon Island, Indonesia. Averaging around 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) in length with a slight, delicate build, its most striking feature is the prominent, unbroken white eye-ring encircling its dark iris, contrasting sharply with its vibrant olive-green upperparts. Its throat and upper breast often show a yellowish wash, fading to off-white or pale grey on the belly and undertai...

Habitat

Primarily inhabits humid lowland and hill forests, forest edges, and disturbed areas including plantations and gardens, from sea level up to approximately 1000 meters.

Diet

Primarily feeds on insects and their larvae, supplementing its diet with nectar from various flowering plants and small, soft fruits.

Behavior

The Ambon White-eye is a highly active and social diurnal bird, often observed foraging in small, mixed-species flocks that traverse the forest canopy and understory. Its foraging strategy is nimble and acrobatic, gleaning insects from foliage, probing flowers for nectar, and plucking small fruit...

Range

The Ambon White-eye is strictly endemic to Ambon Island, one of the Maluku Islands (Moluccas) in eastern Indonesia. Its distribution is confined to the various forested habitats across this single island, including lowland and hill forests, as well as degraded forest patches and human-modified la...

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Fun Facts

- The Ambon White-eye is entirely endemic to Ambon Island in Indonesia, meaning it naturally occurs nowhere else in the world. - It belongs to the Zosteropidae family, which is renowned for its remarkable adaptive radiation across islands, leading to numerous distinct species. - This species was ...

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