Zosterops ponapensis
The Grey-brown White-eye, *Zosterops ponapensis*, is a captivating passerine endemic to the lush island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. This small, active bird measures approximately 10-11 cm in length and weighs a mere 8-12 grams, characterized by its eponymous grey-brown upperparts and slightly paler, sometimes yellowish-tinged, underparts. Its most distinctive feature, common to the *Zosterops* genus, is a prominent, narrow white eye-ring encircling a dark eye, contrastin...
This species thrives in a variety of wooded habitats across Pohnpei, from primary montane and lowland forests to forest edges, secondary growth, and even garden environments, typically found from sea level up to the highest elevations on the island.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide range of small insects and larvae gleaned from leaves and bark, supplemented by nectar from flowering plants and small, soft fruits.
The Grey-brown White-eye is a highly active and social species, often observed foraging in small, cohesive flocks of 3 to 10 individuals, occasionally joining mixed-species foraging parties. They are diurnal, spending their days actively moving through the canopy and sub-canopy layers of trees an...
The Grey-brown White-eye (*Zosterops ponapensis*) is an island endemic, found exclusively on the high volcanic island of Pohnpei (formerly Ponape) in the Federated States of Micronesia, situated in the western Pacific Ocean. Its distribution is restricted entirely to this single island, where it ...
Least Concern
- The Grey-brown White-eye is one of three white-eye species endemic to the Federated States of Micronesia, but the only one exclusively found on Pohnpei. - Despite its 'Grey-brown' name, some individuals can exhibit a subtle yellowish wash on their flanks or undertail coverts, adding a touch of ...