Zosterops inornatus
The Large Lifou White-eye (*Zosterops inornatus*) is a striking and geographically restricted songbird, distinguished by its relatively large size for the genus, measuring approximately 13.5 to 14 cm (5.3-5.5 inches) in length. Its plumage features olive-green upperparts, contrasted with greyish-white underparts and a conspicuous, broad white eye-ring that gives the genus its name. The forehead and crown are a slightly darker green, with a yellowish wash on the vent. This species belongs to t...
This species primarily inhabits native evergreen forests, including both primary and secondary growth, as well as dense coastal scrub and well-vegetated gardens, typically found from sea level up to the highest elevations of Lifou Island.
Its diet consists primarily of insects, which it gleans from foliage, supplemented significantly by nectar from flowering plants and small, soft fruits.
The Large Lifou White-eye is a diurnal and active passerine, often observed foraging restlessly in pairs or small, loose flocks, occasionally joining mixed-species foraging parties. They employ a diverse foraging strategy, meticulously gleaning insects from foliage, probing flowers for nectar, an...
The Large Lifou White-eye is an exceptionally localized species, endemic exclusively to Lifou Island within the Loyalty Islands archipelago, which is part of New Caledonia. This means its entire global population resides on a single, relatively small landmass, approximately 1,146 square kilometer...
Near Threatened
- The Large Lifou White-eye is a true island endemic, found nowhere else on Earth but Lifou Island, part of New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands. - Despite its "white-eye" common name, its prominent white eye-ring is actually one of the broadest and most conspicuous among the *Zosterops* genus, making...