Zosterops eurycricotus
The Broad-ringed White-eye, Zosterops eurycricotus, is a small, vibrant passerine endemic to the montane forests of northeastern Tanzania. Averaging 11-12 cm in length and weighing 10-14 grams, it sports olive-green upperparts, a bright yellow throat and undertail coverts, and a grayish-white belly. Its most distinctive and namesake feature is an exceptionally broad, pure white eye-ring, which is subtly edged below by a fine black line, setting it apart from its congeners. Taxonomically, it b...
This species thrives in montane forests, forest edges, clearings, and cultivated areas, predominantly found at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 3,000 meters above sea level.
Their diet is largely insectivorous, consisting of small insects and their larvae, supplemented extensively by nectar from flowering plants and various small fruits.
Broad-ringed White-eyes are highly active, diurnal birds, frequently observed foraging in small, cohesive flocks of 5 to 15 individuals, often joining mixed-species foraging parties. They employ an agile foraging strategy, gleaning insects and larvae from foliage, probing flowers for nectar, and ...
The Broad-ringed White-eye is strictly endemic to two high-altitude volcanic massifs in northeastern Tanzania, East Africa. Its primary distribution is centered on the northern and eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. A separate, somewhat smaller population also inhabit...
Least Concern
- The scientific name 'eurycricotus' is derived from Greek, meaning 'broad-ringed,' directly referencing its most prominent field mark. - It is one of several white-eye species that have evolved endemically on isolated East African mountain ranges, a testament to island-like biogeography. - Often...