Zosterops silvanus
The Taita White-eye (*Zosterops silvanus*) is a diminutive and highly distinctive passerine endemic to the fragmented montane cloud forests of Kenya's Taita Hills. Measuring approximately 11 cm in length and weighing a mere 9-11 grams, this active bird is immediately identifiable by its prominent, broad white eye-ring, which is slightly broken towards the bill. Its upperparts are a vibrant olive-green, transitioning to a yellowish hue on the forehead and throat, while its belly and flanks are...
This species is confined to the remaining patches of moist Afromontane cloud forest, forest edges, and secondary growth within the Taita Hills, Kenya, typically found at elevations between 1,100 and 2,200 meters. It particularly favors dense understory vegetation and areas with abundant insect li...
The Taita White-eye primarily feeds on a diverse array of small insects and their larvae, supplemented with nectar from various flowering plants and small berries. It forages actively by gleaning from foliage, probing flowers, and occasionally hawking for flying insects.
The Taita White-eye is a diurnal and highly active species, spending its days foraging restlessly through the forest canopy and understory. It employs a variety of foraging techniques, including gleaning insects and larvae from leaves and bark, probing flowers for nectar, and occasionally catchin...
The Taita White-eye is an exceptionally restricted and sedentary species, found exclusively within the Taita Hills of Taita Taveta County in southeastern Kenya. Its entire global distribution encompasses less than 2 square kilometers of fragmented Afromontane cloud forest, consisting of isolated ...
Critically Endangered
- The Taita White-eye is endemic to a total area of only about 2 square kilometers across all remaining forest fragments in the Taita Hills, making its range one of the smallest for any bird species globally. - Its population has been estimated at fewer than 1,000 mature individuals, placing it a...