Zosterops natalis
The Christmas White-eye, *Zosterops natalis*, is a charming and active passerine, endemic to Australia's remote Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Measuring approximately 11-13 cm in length and weighing 10-14 grams, it is characterized by an olive-green back and head, a pale greyish-white belly, and a bright yellow vent and sometimes throat. Its most distinctive field mark, and the origin of its common name, is the prominent white orbital ring that encircles each eye, creating a 'spectacle...
Dense tropical rainforests, secondary growth, coastal thickets, and garden edges from sea level up to the island's highest points.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small invertebrates like caterpillars, beetles, and spiders, supplemented with nectar from flowers and small berries or fruits.
Highly diurnal, the Christmas White-eye is an active and restless species, constantly flitting through the canopy and undergrowth. It forages acrobatically, gleaning insects from leaves and bark, probing flowers for nectar, and plucking small fruits with precision. During the non-breeding season,...
The Christmas White-eye is strictly endemic to Christmas Island, an Australian territory situated in the Indian Ocean. Its entire global distribution is confined to this relatively small island, covering an area of approximately 135 square kilometers. It is a resident species throughout its range...
Least Concern
- This species is strictly endemic, found only on Christmas Island, making it a truly unique avian resident. - Its common name refers to Christmas Island, discovered on Christmas Day, not the holiday itself. - The prominent white eye-ring, or 'spectacles,' is a diagnostic feature shared across ma...