Zosterops feae
The São Tomé White-eye (Zosterops feae), also known as Fea's White-eye, is a charmingly small passerine endemic to the high-altitude cloud forests of São Tomé island in the Gulf of Guinea. Measuring approximately 11-12 cm in length and weighing around 10-12 grams, this species exhibits the classic white-eye silhouette: its upperparts are olive-green, fading to yellowish-green on the flanks, with a bright yellow belly. Its most distinctive field mark is the prominent, unbroken white ring encir...
This white-eye primarily inhabits the dense, humid primary montane cloud forests and humid evergreen forests of São Tomé, typically found at elevations above 1,000 meters. It strongly favors areas with abundant moss, ferns, and epiphytes, indicating a preference for mature, undisturbed forest.
The São Tomé White-eye has an omnivorous diet, primarily consisting of small insects and their larvae, supplemented by nectar from flowering plants and small, soft fruits. It actively forages by gleaning and probing foliage and bark in the forest canopy and subcanopy.
São Tomé White-eyes are diurnal and highly active, spending their days foraging in the mid-canopy and understory of their dense forest habitat. They employ an agile foraging strategy, gleaning insects and small fruits from foliage and bark, often hovering briefly to snatch prey or sip nectar from...
The São Tomé White-eye is an island endemic, found exclusively on São Tomé island, part of the Gulf of Guinea archipelago in West Africa. Its distribution is highly restricted to the pristine primary montane cloud forests located in the central and southern parts of the island. Historically, it w...
Critically Endangered
- The São Tomé White-eye was considered "lost" for over a century after its initial discovery in 1888, with no confirmed sightings until its dramatic rediscovery in 1991. - Its scientific name, Zosterops feae, honors Leonardo Fea, an Italian zoologist and explorer who collected the first specimen...