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 Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
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) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Zosterops abyssinicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T103889260A113125903. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T103889260A113125903.en. Retrieved 20 February 2022.

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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