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.

Abyssinian white-eye
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae
Genus: Zosterops
Species:
Z. abyssinicus
Binomial name
Zosterops abyssinicus

It is 10–12 cm long. The upperparts are green; darker and greyer in northern races. There is a narrow white ring around the eye and a thin black line between the bill and eye. The underparts vary from pale yellow to greyish-white depending on the race. The bird has various twittering and buzzing calls.

In Africa it occurs from north-east Sudan south through Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somaliland and Kenya to north-east Tanzania. It is also found on Socotra Island. In Arabia it occurs in south-west Saudi Arabia, Yemen and southern Oman. It occurs in open woodland, scrub, wadis and gardens. It is found up to 1,800 metres above sea-level in Africa and 3,100 metres in Arabia. It usually forages among branches in trees but sometimes descends to ground-level. It feeds mainly on insects and will also take nectar from flowers.

Notes
  1. BirdLife International 2017. Zosterops abyssinicus (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T103889260A113125903. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T103889260A113125903.en. Downloaded on 20 August 2019.

References
  • Hollom, P. A. D.; Porter, R. F.; Christensen, S. & Willis, Ian (1988) Birds of the Middle East and North Africa, T & AD Poyser, Calton, England.
  • Sinclair, I. & Ryan, P. (2003) Birds of Africa South of the Sahara, Struik, Cape Town.
  • Zimmerman, D. A.; Turner, D. A. & Pearson, D. J. (1999) Birds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania, Christopher Helm, London.
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