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White-Eyes

Oriental White-eye

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae
Genera

Speirops
Zosterops
Rukia
Cleptornis
Tephrozosterops
Madanga
Lophozosterops
Oculocincta
Heleia
Woodfordia
Megazosterops
Hypocryptadius


The white-eyes are small passerine birds native to tropical and sub-tropical Africa, southern Asia and Australasia. They also inhabit most of the islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Many white-eye species are endemic to single islands, and the brown-backed species only occur on islands, but some have a very wide distribution. The Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis, naturally colonised New Zealand, where it is known as the Tauhau, from 1855.

The birds of this group are mostly of undistinguished appearance, the plumage above being generally either mouse-coloured or greenish olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. They have rounded wings and strong legs. The size ranges up to 6 inches (15cm) in length.

All the species of white-eyes are sociable, forming large flocks which only separate on the approach of the breeding season. They build tree nestA nest is normally built by birds to hold their eggs and provide a home for their offspring. They are usually made of some organic material such as twigs, grass, and leaves. Generally each species of bird has a distinctive style of nest. Nests can be founs and lay 2-4 unspotted pale blue eggs.

Though mainly insectivorous, they eat nectarIn Greek mythology, nectar and ambrosia are the food of the gods. It is believed that the two terms were not originally distinguished—though in Homer's poems and later works, nectar is the drink and ambrosia the food. On the other hand, in Alcman nectar i and fruits of various kinds. The Silvereye can be a problem in AustraliaAustralia is the sixth-largest country in the world (geographically), the only one to occupy an entire continent, and the largest in the region of Australasia. Australia includes the island of Tasmania, which is an Australian State. Its neighbouring countn vineyards, through piercing the grapeVitis acerifolia Vitis aestivalis Vitis amurensis Vitis arizonica Vitis x bourquina Vitis californica Vitis x champinii Vitis cinerea Vitis x doaniana Vitis girdiana Vitis labrusca Vitis x labruscana Vitis monticola Vitis mustangensis Vitis x novae-anglia allowing infection or insect damage to follow.

The scientific name of the group derives from the GreekThe Greek language ( /Elini'k{/) is an Indo-European language which has existed from around the 14th century BC in the Cretan inscriptions called Linear B. Mycenaean Greek of this period is distinguished from later Classical or Ancient Greek of the 8th ce for girdle-eye, and refers to the ring of white feathers round the eyes, which is very conspicuous in many species.



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