Zosterops anderssoni
The Southern Yellow White-eye (Zosterops anderssoni) is a small, energetic passerine bird, often recognized by its striking white eye-ring, which gives the Zosteropidae family its common name. This species typically measures about 11-13 cm (4.3-5.1 in) in length and weighs between 9-15 grams. Its plumage features olive-green upperparts, bright yellow underparts, a yellow throat, and a short, slender, slightly decurved bill. A distinctive field mark, beyond the prominent white eye-ring, is the...
Found in a variety of wooded habitats including savanna, dry forests, riparian woodlands, acacia scrub, suburban gardens, and plantations, from sea level up to elevations of approximately 2,000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming caterpillars, aphids, and beetles, but also feeds heavily on nectar and small, soft fruits. They forage by gleaning insects from leaves, probing flowers with their brush-tipped tongues, and occasionally hovering to snatch prey.
Southern Yellow White-eyes are highly diurnal and incessantly active foragers, often seen flitting through foliage. They exhibit acrobatic feeding behaviors, frequently hanging upside down to glean insects or probe flowers for nectar. Outside the breeding season, they are highly gregarious, formi...
The Southern Yellow White-eye is endemic to Southern Africa, with a broad distribution spanning across Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini (Swaziland), and Lesotho. It is a resident species throughout its range, showing little to no true migratory behav...
Least Concern
- The genus name 'Zosterops' is derived from ancient Greek, meaning 'girdle-eye', a direct reference to their distinctive white eye-ring. - Despite their small size, they are highly acrobatic and are often observed hanging upside down while foraging. - They possess a brush-tipped tongue specifica...