Zosterops chloris
The Lemon-bellied White-eye (Zosterops chloris) is a charismatic and ubiquitous passerine bird, instantly recognizable by its vivid lemon-yellow underparts, olive-green back, and the distinctive ring of white feathers encircling its eye, a hallmark of the Zosteropidae family. This small, active bird typically measures between 11-12 cm in length and weighs a mere 8-12 grams, with a slender, slightly decurved bill perfectly adapted for its diverse diet. There is virtually no sexual dimorphism, ...
Primarily found in lowland and coastal areas, inhabiting mangroves, secondary forests, forest edges, plantations, gardens, and sometimes extending into montane regions up to 1,500 meters.
Feeds primarily on insects (especially caterpillars, aphids, and small beetles), spiders, nectar from flowering plants, and soft fruits, obtained through active gleaning and probing.
Lemon-bellied White-eyes are highly gregarious birds, almost always observed in active, noisy flocks that can number in the dozens, sometimes associating with other small insectivorous species. They are diurnal foragers, constantly moving through the canopy and sub-canopy, gleaning insects and sp...
The Lemon-bellied White-eye boasts an expansive distribution across insular Southeast Asia and Oceania, spanning from Sulawesi and the Lesser Sunda Islands eastward through the Moluccas, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and extending into the Solomon Islands. This species is largely resident...
Least Concern
- The genus name 'Zosterops' comes from Ancient Greek, meaning 'girdle-eye', referring to their distinctive white eye-ring. - They are remarkable colonizers of islands, showcasing rapid evolutionary divergence and speciation within their extensive range. - Their slender, pointed bill is perfectly...