''Zosterops'' (meaning "eye-

girdle A belt, especially if a cord or rope, is called a girdle if it is worn as part of Christian liturgical vestments, or in certain historical, literary or sports contexts. Girdles are used to close a cassock in Christian denominations, including th ...

") is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

passerine A passerine () is any bird of the order Passeriformes (; from Latin 'sparrow' and '-shaped'), which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds, passerines are distinguished from other orders of birds by t ...

birds containing the typical white-eyes in the white-eye family

Zosteropidae The white-eyes are a family, Zosteropidae, of small passerine birds native to tropical, subtropical and temperate Sub-Saharan Africa, southern and eastern Asia, and Australasia. White-eyes inhabit most tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, the ...

. The genus has the largest number of

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

in the white-eye family. They occur in the

Afrotropical The Afrotropical realm is one of Earth's eight biogeographic realms. It includes Africa south of the Sahara Desert, the majority of the Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, southern Iran and extreme southwestern Pakistan, and the island ...

Indomalayan The Indomalayan realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms. It extends across most of South and Southeast Asia and into the southern parts of East Asia. Also called the Oriental realm by biogeographers, Indomalaya spreads all over the Indi ...

, and

Australasian realm The Australasian realm is a biogeographic realm that is coincident with, but not (by some definitions) the same as, the geographical region of Australasia. The realm includes Australia, the island of New Guinea (comprising Papua New Guinea and ...

s. Typical white-eyes have a length of between . Their most characteristic feature is a conspicuous white feather

ring Ring may refer to: * Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry * To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell :(hence) to initiate a telephone connection Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...

around the eye, though some species lack it. The species in this group vary in the structural adaptations of the tongue. The ''Zosterops'' 'griseotinctus''group is an example of a "great speciator" inhabiting a vast area and showing a remarkable morphological differentiation on islands, some of which maybe as close as apart.

Systematics

The genus ''Zosterops'' was introduced by the naturalists

Nicholas Vigors Nicholas Aylward Vigors (1785 – 26 October 1840) was an Irish zoologist and politician. He popularized the classification of birds on the basis of the quinarian system. Early life Vigors was born at Old Leighlin, County Carlow on 1785 as fi ...

and

Thomas Horsfield Thomas Horsfield (May 12, 1773 – July 24, 1859) was an American physician and natural history, naturalist who worked extensively in Indonesia, describing numerous species of plants and animals from the region. He was later a curator of the Eas ...

in 1827. The name combines the

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...

words ''zōstēros'' "belt" or "girdle" and ''ōpos'' "eye". The

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

was designated as the

Malagasy white-eye The Malagasy white-eye (''Zosterops maderaspatanus'') is a species of bird in the white-eye family, Zosteropidae. Found in Madagascar and Seychelles, its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist low ...

René Lesson René-Primevère Lesson (20 March 1794 – 28 April 1849) was a French surgeon, naturalist, ornithologist, and herpetologist. Biography Lesson was born at Rochefort, and entered the Naval Medical School in Rochefort at the age of sixteen. He ...

in 1828. The results of a series of molecular phylogenetic studies published between 2014 and 2018 prompted a major revision of species limits, in which 10 new genera were introduced. In the reorganisation, the English names of three of the existing genera were replaced. Additionally, a study on

Sri Lanka white-eye The Sri Lanka white-eye (''Zosterops ceylonensis'') is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family, which is endemic (ecology), endemic to Sri Lanka. It is a resident breeder in forests, gardens and plantations, mainly in the highlands. Taxo ...

s (''Zosterops ceylonensis'') and

Indian white-eye The Indian white-eye (''Zosterops palpebrosus''), formerly the Oriental white-eye, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. It is a resident breeder in open woodland on the Indian subcontinent. They forage in small groups, feeding on ...

s (''Zosterops palpebrosus'') suggests that the Sri Lanka white-eye is the root species and the origin of all ''Zosterops species''. This raises questions upon the former theory of Southeast Asian origin.

Species

There are over 100 species in the genus. This includes three species (denoted by a dagger † in the list below) that have become extinct since the 16th century. *

(''Zosterops ceylonensis'') * Yellowish white-eye (''Zosterops nigrorum'') *

Black-capped white-eye The black-capped white-eye (''Zosterops atricapilla'') is a small passerine from the family Zosteropidae. Description It can reach a length between nine and eleven centimetres and looks slightly similar to the Sangkar white-eye. The back is oli ...

(''Zosterops atricapilla'') *

Abyssinian white-eye The Abyssinian white-eye or white-breasted white-eye (''Zosterops abyssinicus'') is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus ''Zosterops'' in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. It is native to north-east Africa and southern Arabia. It is 1 ...

(''Zosterops abyssinicus'') *

Pale white-eye The pale white-eye also known as Kenya white-eye (''Zosterops flavilateralis'') is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in central and eastern Kenya and in eastern Tanzania. The pale white-eye was formerly treated as a subspeci ...

(''Zosterops flavilateralis'') *

Mbulu white-eye The Mbulu white-eye (''Zosterops mbuluensis'') is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. The Mbulu white-eye was formerly treated as a subspecies of the montane white-eye (''Zosterops pol ...

(''Zosterops mbuluensis'') – split from ''Z. poliogastrus'' * Chestnut-flanked white-eye (''Zosterops erythropleurus'') *

Swinhoe's white-eye Swinhoe's white-eye (''Zosterops simplex'') is a bird species in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. It is found in east China, Taiwan, north Vietnam, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. Taxonomy Swinhoe's white-eye was formally descri ...

(''Zosterops simplex'') – split from ''Z. japonicus'' *

Mountain blackeye The mountain blackeye (''Zosterops emiliae''), sometimes referred to as the olive blackeye or simply black-eye, is a species of passerine bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the highest mountains on the island of Borneo. It is kno ...

(''Zosterops emiliae'') *

Warbling white-eye The warbling white-eye (''Zosterops japonicus''), also known as the Japanese white-eye and mountain white-eye, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. The specific epithet is occasionally written ''japonica'', but this is incorrect du ...

(''Zosterops japonicus'') – includes Japanese white-eye and mountain white-eye *

(''Zosterops palpebrosus'') – formerly oriental white-eye * Lowland white-eye (''Zosterops meyeni'') * †

Marianne white-eye The Marianne white-eye (''Zosterops semiflavus''), also known as Seychelles chestnut-sided white-eye or Seychelles yellow white-eye, is an extinct species of small bird in the white-eye family. Taxonomy Edward Newton described it as a full spec ...

(''Zosterops semiflavus'') * Karthala white-eye (''Zosterops mouroniensis)'' *

Réunion olive white-eye The Réunion olive white-eye (''Zosterops olivaceus'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is found on Réunion. Its natural habitats are boreal forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. In 1760 the French zool ...

(''Zosterops olivaceus'') *

Mauritius olive white-eye The Mauritius olive white-eye (''Zosterops chloronothos'', often mistakenly spelled ''Zosterops chloronothus''(2007) Rare Birds Yearbook 2008. England: MagDig Media Lmtd, 208. .) is a very rare and localized passerine from the family of white-ey ...

(''Zosterops chloronothos'') *

Réunion grey white-eye The Réunion grey white-eye (''Zosterops borbonicus'') is a small passerine from the family Zosteropidae, which is native to the islands of Réunion.Gill F. and Donsker D. (eds), Family Zosteropidae, in IOC World Bird Names (ver 6.2), Internatio ...

(''Zosterops borbonicus'') *

Mauritius grey white-eye The Mauritius grey white-eye (''Zosterops mauritianus'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is one of two white-eye species endemic to the island of Mauritius Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label= Mauritian ...

(''Zosterops mauritianus'') * Mount Cameroon speirops (''Zosterops melanocephalus'') * Forest white-eye (''Zosterops stenocricotus'') * Green white-eye (''Zosterops stuhlmanni'') – split from ''Z. poliogastrus'' *

Broad-ringed white-eye The broad-ringed white-eye (''Zosterops eurycricotus'') or Kilimanjaro white-eye is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in northeast Tanzania. The broad-ringed white-eye was formerly considered a subspecies of the montane whi ...

(''Zosterops eurycricotus'') – split from ''Z. poliogastrus'' * Fernando Po speirops (''Zosterops brunneus'') * Heuglin's white-eye (''Zosterops poliogastrus'') – formerly montane white-eye * Kikuyu white-eye (''Zosterops kikuyuensis'') * Socotra white-eye (''Zosterops socotranus'') – split from ''Z. abyssinicus'' *

Príncipe white-eye The Príncipe white-eye (''Zosterops ficedulinus'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. The species was described by Gustav Hartlaub in 1866. It is Endemism, endemic to the islands of Príncipe and São Tomé, where it is restricted ...

(''Zosterops ficedulinus'') * Annobón white-eye (''Zosterops griseovirescens'') * São Tomé white-eye (''Zosterops feae'') * Black-capped speirops (''Zosterops lugubris'') *

Príncipe speirops The Príncipe speirops (''Zosterops leucophaeus'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the island of Príncipe in São Tomé and Príncipe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and p ...

(''Zosterops leucophaeus'') *

Taita white-eye Taita white-eye (''Zosterops silvanus'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It includes numerous subspecies, sometimes considered a subspecies to montane white-eye (''Z. poliogastrus''). It is only found in Taita Hills in southeas ...

(''Zosterops silvanus'') *

Northern yellow white-eye The northern yellow white-eye (''Zosterops senegalensis''), formerly the African yellow white-eye, is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is found across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in the west across to southern Sudan in the eas ...

(''Zosterops senegalensis'') – formerly African yellow white-eye * Orange River white-eye (''Zosterops pallidus'') * South Pare white-eye (''Zosterops winifredae'') – split from ''Z. poliogastrus'' * Cape white-eye (''Zosterops virens'') * Southern yellow white-eye (''Zosterops anderssoni'') – split from ''Z. senegalensis'' * Pemba white-eye (''Zosterops vaughani'') * Seychelles white-eye (''Zosterops modestus'') * Anjouan white-eye (''Zosterops anjuanensis'') * Moheli white-eye (''Zosterops comorensis'') *

(''Zosterops maderaspatanus'') * Meratus white-eye (''Zosterops meratusensis'') *

Aldabra white-eye The Aldabra white-eye (''Zosterops aldabrensis'') is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the island of Aldabra in the Indian Ocean. The Aldabra white-eye was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Malagasy white-eye ('' ...

(''Zosterops aldabrensis'') – split from ''Z. maderaspatanus'' *

Kirk's white-eye Kirk's white-eye (''Zosterops kirki'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Comoros Islands. It was previously considered a subspecies of the Malagasy white-eye. Its common and binomial name are in honour of expl ...

(''Zosterops kirki'') *

Mayotte white-eye The Mayotte white-eye or chestnut-sided white-eye (''Zosterops mayottensis'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is now found only on Mayotte in the Comoro Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, su ...

(''Zosterops mayottensis'') * Lemon-bellied white-eye (''Zosterops chloris'') * Wakatobi white-eye (''Zosterops flavissimus'') – split from ''Z. chloris'' *

Black-crowned white-eye The black-crowned white-eye (''Zosterops atrifrons'') is a songbird species. It is closely related to the Old World babblers, and its family Zosteropidae might better be included in the Tiimalidae. Its subspecies from the Sulawesi region might ...

(''Zosterops atrifrons'') * Sangihe white-eye(''Zosterops nehrkorni'') * Pale-bellied white-eye (''Zosterops consobrinorum'') *

Togian white-eye The Togian white-eye (''Zosterops somadikartai'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in the Togian Islands of Indonesia, where it is endemic. The species was first spotted by University of Indonesia researcher Mochamad ...

(''Zosterops somadikartai'') * Black-ringed white-eye (''Zosterops anomalus'') *

Green-fronted white-eye The green-fronted white-eye (''Zosterops minor'') is a songbird species. It is closely related to the Old World babblers, and its family Zosteropidae might better be included in the Tiimalidae. Some sources include this species within ''Z. atrif ...

(''Zosterops minor'') *

Black-fronted white-eye The black-fronted white-eye (''Zosterops chrysolaemus'') is a songbird species. It is closely related to the Old World babblers, and its family Zosteropidae might better be included in the Tiimalidae. The black-fronted white-eye was formerly con ...

(''Zosterops chrysolaemus'') – split from ''Z. minor'' *

Tagula white-eye The Tagula white-eye or white-throated white-eye (''Zosterops meeki'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), ...

(''Zosterops meeki'') * Morotai white-eye (''Zosterops dehaani'') – split from ''Z. atriceps'' *

Cream-throated white-eye The cream-throated white-eye (''Zosterops atriceps'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the northern Moluccas. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical ma ...

(''Zosterops atriceps'') * Buru white-eye (''Zosterops buruensis'') * Seram white-eye (''Zosterops stalkeri'') *

Javan white-eye The Javan white-eye (''Zosterops flavus'') is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae that occurs in Java and Borneo. It is threatened by trapping for wildlife trade and has been assessed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2019, as the wild ...

(''Zosterops flavus'') * Ashy-bellied white-eye (''Zosterops citrinella'') *

Canary white-eye The canary white-eye or yellow white-eye (''Zosterops luteus'') is a species of white-eye endemic to northern Australia in subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. Its common name reflects the circle of white feathers around its eye. Descrip ...

(''Zosterops luteus'') *

Silvereye The silvereye or wax-eye (''Zosterops lateralis'') is a very small omnivorous passerine bird of the south-west Pacific. In Australia and New Zealand its common name is sometimes white-eye, but this name is more commonly used to refer to all membe ...

(''Zosterops lateralis'') *

Hume's white-eye Hume's white-eye (''Zosterops auriventer'') is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in upland areas of Myanmar, southern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. This species was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Indian ...

(''Zosterops auriventer'') – split from ''Z. poliogastrus'' * Sangkar white-eye (''Zosterops melanurus'') – split from ''Z. palpebrosus'' *

Everett's white-eye Everett's white-eye (''Zosterops everetti'') is a bird species in the disputed family Zosteropidae, which might belong with the Old World babblers (Timaliidae). The name commemorates British colonial administrator and zoological collector Alfred ...

(''Zosterops everetti'') * Vella Lavella white-eye (''Zosterops vellalavella'') * Santa Cruz white-eye (''Zosterops sanctaecrucis'') * Capped white-eye (''Zosterops fuscicapilla'') * Oya Tabu white-eye (''Zosterops crookshanki'') – split from ''Z. fuscicapilla'' *

Vanuatu white-eye The Vanuatu white-eye or yellow-fronted white-eye (''Zosterops flavifrons'') is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus ''Zosterops'' in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Vanuatu, where it is one of the most common birds. ...

(''Zosterops flavifrons'') *

Bare-eyed white-eye The bare-eyed white-eye (''Zosterops superciliosus'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is Endemism, endemic to Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands. References Further reading

Zosterops, bare-eyed white-eye Birds of ...

(''Zosterops superciliosus'') *

Sanford's white-eye Sanford's white-eye (''Zosterops lacertosus'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Nendo Island. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. This species ha ...

(''Zosterops lacertosus'') *

Vanikoro white-eye The Vanikoro white-eye (''Zosterops gibbsi'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Vanikoro in the Santa Cruz Islands of Temotu Province in the south-east of the Solomon Islands chain.Dutson, Guy. (2008). A new specie ...

(''Zosterops gibbsi'') * Fiji white-eye (''Zosterops explorator'') * Bismarck white-eye (''Zosterops hypoxanthus'') *

Biak white-eye The Biak white-eye (''Zosterops mysorensis'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the islands of Biak and Supiori in West Papua, Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It ...

(''Zosterops mysorensis'') * Bougainville white-eye (''Zosterops hamlini'') – split from ''Z. rendovae'' * Guadalcanal white-eye (''Zosterops oblitus'') – split from ''Z. rendovae'' * Grey-throated white-eye (''Zosterops rendovae'') * Olive-colored white-eye (''Zosterops oleagineus'') * Dusky white-eye (''Zosterops finschii'') * Grey-brown white-eye (''Zosterops ponapensis'') * Kosrae white-eye (''Zosterops cinereus'') * Rota white-eye (''Zosterops rotensis'') * Yellow-throated white-eye (''Zosterops metcalfii'') * Malaita white-eye (''Zosterops stresemanni'') *

Papuan white-eye The Papuan white-eye (''Zosterops novaeguineae''), sometimes known as the New Guinea white-eye, is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in the Aru Islands and New Guinea (mainly Huon, Bird's Head and Papuan Peninsula). Its n ...

(''Zosterops novaeguineae'') *

Ambon white-eye The Ambon white-eye (''Zosterops kuehni'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, and rural g ...

(''Zosterops kuehni'') *

Pearl-bellied white-eye The pearl-bellied white-eye (''Zosterops grayi'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is native to the Kai Islands in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat lo ...

(''Zosterops grayi'') *

Gizo white-eye The Gizo white-eye or yellow-billed white-eye (''Zosterops luteirostris'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. Distribution It is endemic to Ghizo Island. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and pl ...

(''Zosterops luteirostris'') * Golden-bellied white-eye (''Zosterops uropygialis'') * Ranongga white-eye (''Zosterops splendidus'') * Solomons white-eye (''Zosterops kulambangrae'') * Dark-eyed white-eye (''Zosterops tetiparius'') *

Christmas white-eye The Christmas white-eye (''Zosterops natalis'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Christmas Island. Its natural habitats are tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and subtropical or tropical moist shrub ...

(''Zosterops natalis'') *

Bridled white-eye The bridled white-eye (''Zosterops conspicillatus'') (Chamorro name: ''nosa'') was a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It was endemic to the island of Guam in the Mariana Islands. The species' natural habitat was subtropical or tropica ...

(''Zosterops conspicillatus'') * Citrine white-eye (''Zosterops semperi'') * Plain white-eye (''Zosterops hypolais'') * Louisiade white-eye (''Zosterops griseotinctus'') *

Kolombangara white-eye The Kolombangara white-eye or hermit white-eye (''Zosterops murphyi'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands. References Kolombangara white-eye Birds of Kolombangara Kolombangara white-eye ...

(''Zosterops murphyi'') *

Large Lifou white-eye The large Lifou white-eye (''Zosterops inornatus'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg ...

(''Zosterops inornatus'') * †

White-chested white-eye The white-chested white-eye (''Zosterops albogularis'') also known as white-breasted white-eye or Norfolk white-eye is a passerine from the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Norfolk Island between New Caledonia and New Zealand and it is regar ...

(''Zosterops albogularis'') * Samoan white-eye (''Zosterops samoensis'') * † Robust white-eye (''Zosterops strenuus'') * Slender-billed white-eye (''Zosterops tenuirostris'') *

Small Lifou white-eye The small Lifou white-eye (''Zosterops minutus''), also known as the sulphur white-eye, is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the island of Lifou in New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on th ...

(''Zosterops minutus'') * Green-backed white-eye (''Zosterops xanthochroa'') * Rennell white-eye (''Zosterops rennellianus'') * Wangi Wangi white eye (''Zosterops paruhbesar'')

References

External links

Zosterops photos & videos
on the Internet Bird Collection {{Taxonbar, from=Q226900 Bird genera Taxa named by Nicholas Aylward Vigors