ssp tephropleurus - Lord Howe White-eye
Lord Howe Island, NSW, Australia, December 2007
- Zosterops lateralis
Includes: Lord Howe White-eye
Identification
12cm, 13gm. Also known as wax-eye, or white-eye, it has a conspicuous white ring around the eye, thus giving the bird it's name. The head and upperparts are olive green with a grey band across the back, which extends around the chest. The underparts are a peachy brown with white under the tail.
Distribution
An abundant native to Australia and New Zealand. Recent colonist to New Zealand - 1856, at the settlement stage. The Maori name is Tauhou meaning "Stranger". Was not known in NZ until the middle of the 19th century, but it is thought that a storm caught a migrating flock and diverted them to New Zealand. As they arrived naturally and colonised NZ on their own, they are protected like other native species.
Also found in New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji.
Taxonomy
As many as 17 subspecies described. tephropleurus from Lord Howe Island is sometimes treated as full species, Lord Howe White-eye.
Habitat
Tree cover, up to 1000m
Behaviour
Silvereyes feed on a variety of foods, invertebrates, fruit, and nectar and will feed in flocks over winter in gardens and parks they have a fine tapered bill and a brush tipped tongue for drinking nectar. They prefer the fruit of native trees but do feed on other fruiting species.
As the breeding season approaches the pair break away to form individual territories. They are prolific breeders, raising 2-3 broods per season, with between 2-5 eggs per brood.
