Zosterops melanocephalus
The Mount Cameroon Speirops (*Zosterops melanocephalus*) is a diminutive passerine, measuring approximately 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 in) in length, and is instantly recognizable by its striking blackish head, which contrasts sharply with its olive-green upperparts. Unlike many of its *Zosterops* relatives, it possesses either a very narrow, often broken, or even inconspicuous white eye-ring, making its identification unique among the typically prominent white-eyed species. Its underparts are general...
Strictly inhabits humid montane forest, forest edge, and high-altitude scrub, typically found at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 meters (4,900-9,800 feet) on Mount Cameroon.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming small arthropods, but also frequently feeds on nectar from montane flowers and small berries. It forages actively by gleaning, probing, and plucking.
Diurnal and highly active, the Mount Cameroon Speirops forages energetically throughout the day, often roosting communally in dense vegetation at night. It employs an agile and acrobatic foraging strategy, gleaning small insects from foliage and bark, probing montane flowers for nectar, and pluck...
The Mount Cameroon Speirops is an exceptionally localized endemic species, found exclusively on Mount Cameroon in southwestern Cameroon, West Africa. Its distribution is strictly confined to the upper montane forests and high-altitude scrub zones of this single active volcanic peak. It typically ...
Vulnerable
- The Mount Cameroon Speirops is a prime example of montane endemism, confined almost entirely to a single volcanic peak, Mount Cameroon. - It was historically placed in the genus *Speirops*, which literally translates to "star-eye" or "speckled eye," referring to the eye-ring, but has since been...