Cape white-eye
Ssp. virens upper, capensis lower
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae
Genus: Zosterops
Species:
Z. virens
Binomial name
Zosterops virens
Sundevall, 1850
Native range:[2][3]
  Z. v. virens
  Z. v. capensis

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,[2] besides a variety of mesic to well-watered habitats.

Taxonomy

There are two subspecies:[4]

  • 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 (Z. pallidus) has been split from the Cape white-eye.[4]

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, Eswatini and marginally in Mozambique. Most populations are resident, but some perform minor seasonal movements.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International. (2017) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Zosterops virens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T103889606A111177432. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T103889606A111177432.en. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 Chittenden, H.; Allan, David; Weiersbye, Ingrid; et al. (2012). Roberts geographic variation of southern African birds. Cape Town: JVBBF. pp. 196–197. ISBN 978-1-920602-00-0.
  3. ↑ Hockey, P. A. R.; Dean, W. R. J.; Ryan, P. G. (2005). Roberts Birds of Southern Africa (7th ed.). Cape Town: Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. pp. 822–823. ISBN 0-620-34053-3.
  4. 1 2 del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. (2017). "Cape White-eye (Zosterops virens)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  • Sinclair, Hockey and Tarboton, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa, ISBN 1-86872-721-1
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