Cape White-eye
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adult males
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| Zosterops pallidus Swainson, 1838 |
The Cape White-eye, Zosterops pallidus, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. It is an endemic resident breeder in forests, woodland and gardens in South Africa and Namibia. It is partially migratory, with some seasonal movements.
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[edit] Taxonomy
There are seven subspecies. The nominate western subspecies is sometimes split as the Orange River White-eye, Zosterops pallidus, leaving the eastern races as Cape White-eye, Z. capensis. The Orange River White-eye prefers drier, more open woodland than the eastern forms, and the ranges of the two populations do not overlap.
[edit] 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 plumage is green, and the throat and vent are bright yellow. The Orange River White-eye has a pale yellow central belly with peach coloured flanks, whereas the Cape subspecies has a grey breast and belly. However, the subspecies from Mpumalanga has a green-washed breast and belly.
The contact call is a sweet twee tuuu twee twee, higher pitched and more trilled in the Orange River White-eye. The territorial call is surprisingly loud for a small bird.
[edit] 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.
[edit] References
- Sinclair, Hockey and Tarboton, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa, ISBN 1-86872-721-1
