The Cape white-eye (''Zosterops virens'') is a small
passerine bird in the
white-eye family. It is native to
southern Africa. It is commonly found in suburbia, parks and gardens,
besides a variety of mesic to well-watered habitats.
Taxonomy
There are two
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
:
* ''Z. v. capensis''
Sundevall, 1850 – south-western South Africa, Lesotho and adjacent western KwaZulu-Natal.
* ''Z. v. virens''
Sundevall, 1850 – eastern and south-eastern Botswana, eastern and northern South Africa, Eswatini, and adjacent south-western Mozambique.
These subspecies
interbreed where they come into contact.
The
Orange River white-eye
The Orange River white-eye (''Zosterops pallidus'') is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae, which is native to Namibia and South Africa. It was formerly deemed conspecific with the Cape white-eye (''Zosterops virens''), but the two spec ...
(''Z. pallidus'') has been split from the Cape white-eye.
Identification
This species is about 12 cm long with rounded wings, strong legs, and a conspicuous ring of white feathers round the eyes. The upperparts are green, and the throat and vent are bright yellow. The members of the ''Z. v. capensis'' has a grey breast and belly, whereas ''Z. v. virens'' has a greenish-yellow breast and belly.
They are very vocal, and constantly keep in touch with soft trilled ''pee'', ''pree'' or ''pirreee'' call notes. The song consists of repeated long jerky phrases of sweet reedy notes, varying in pitch, volume and temp, usually starting off with ''teee teee'' or ''pirrup pirrup'' notes, then becoming a fast rambled jumble of notes, which may incorporate mimicked phrases of other birdcalls.
Behaviour
This is a sociable species forming large flocks outside the breeding season. It builds a cup nest in a tree and lays 2-3 unspotted pale blue eggs. The eggs hatch in 11–12 days, and fledging occurs in another 12–13 days. The peak breeding season is September to December.
The Cape white-eye feeds mainly on insects, but also soft fleshy flowers, nectar, fruit and small grains. It readily comes to bird feeders.
Distribution
It is found in a wide range of densely to lightly wooded habitats in
South Africa,
Botswana,
Lesotho
Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...
,
Eswatini
Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...
and marginally in
Mozambique. Most populations are resident, but some perform minor seasonal movements.
Gallery
Image:Cape White-eye, Zosterops capensis (8020719752).jpg, ''Z. v. virens'' at Suikerbosrand
Image:Zosterops pallidus -Cape Town, South Africa-8.jpg, ''Z. v. capensis'' in Cape Town
References
*Sinclair, Hockey and Tarboton, ''SASOL Birds of Southern Africa'',
External links
*Cape White-eye
Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
{{Taxonbar, from=Q12269418
Birds described in 1850
Birds of Southern Africa
Zosterops