Zosterops tenuirostris
The Slender-billed White-eye (Zosterops tenuirostris) is a captivating passerine endemic to the isolated Norfolk Island, a dependency of Australia in the Pacific Ocean. This small, agile bird measures approximately 13-14 cm in length and is characterized by its olive-green upperparts, a bright white belly with greenish-yellow flanks, and a prominent, unbroken white eye-ring that gives the family its name. Its most distinctive feature, and the source of its common name, is a remarkably long, s...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical moist broadleaf forests, woodlands, and well-vegetated gardens across Norfolk Island, from sea level to the highest points of the island.
Their diet consists primarily of small insects and nectar, supplemented with small fruits and berries, reflecting their role as both an insectivore and nectarivore.
The Slender-billed White-eye is a highly active, diurnal species, often observed foraging energetically through the canopy and undergrowth. Its foraging strategy involves agile gleaning of insects from leaves and bark, as well as deftly probing flowers for nectar with its specialized bill. They a...
The Slender-billed White-eye is strictly endemic to Norfolk Island, an Australian territory situated in the Pacific Ocean between New Caledonia and New Zealand. Its entire global distribution is confined to this single small island and its immediate islets, such as Phillip Island. There are no kn...
Least Concern
- The Slender-billed White-eye is one of only two remaining endemic land bird species on Norfolk Island, a testament to its unique evolutionary history. - Its distinctively long, slender, and decurved bill is a prime example of adaptive radiation, allowing it to exploit specific nectar sources un...