Zosterops is a genus of passerine birds containing the typical white-eyes in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. The genus has the largest number of species in the white-eye family. They occur in the Afrotropical, Indomalayan, and Australasian realms. Typical white-eyes have a length of between 8 and 15 cm. Their most characteristic feature is a conspicuous white feather ring around the eye, though some species lack it. The species in this group vary in the structural adaptations of the tongue. The Zosterops [griseotinctus] group is an example of a "great speciator" inhabiting a vast area and showing a remarkable morphological differentiation on islands, some of which maybe as close as 2 km (1.2 mi) apart.
The white-eyes are a family, Zosteropidae, of small passerine birds native to tropical, subtropical and temperate Sub-Saharan Africa, southern and eastern Asia, and Australasia. White-eyes inhabit most tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, the western Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Guinea. Discounting some widespread members of the genus Zosterops, most species are endemic to single islands or archipelagos. The silvereye, Zosterops lateralis, naturally colonised New Zealand, where it is known as the "wax-eye" or tauhou ("stranger"), from 1855. The silvereye has also been introduced to the Society Islands in French Polynesia, while the Japanese white-eye has been introduced to Hawaii.
The Indian white-eye, formerly the Oriental white-eye, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. It is a resident breeder in open woodland on the Indian subcontinent. They forage in small groups, feeding on nectar and small insects. They are easily identified by the distinctive white eye-ring and overall yellowish upperparts. The range previously extended eastwards to Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Malaysia but when the taxa in these regions were assigned to other species, the English name was changed.
The lemon-bellied white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Indonesia, where it occurs on a number of islands from the Sunda Strait to the Aru Islands. It is present on several of the Lesser Sunda Islands as well as on parts of Sulawesi, as well as many smaller islands, but is absent from the larger islands of Borneo, Java, Sumatra and Timor. Currently, HBW describes five sub-species of lemon-bellied white-eye. However, the extensive distribution of Z. c. intermedius is likely to contain more than one reproductively isolated population (cf. Z.c. intermedius and Z. c. flavissimus, with the latter now considered a distinct species, the Wakatobi white-eye.
The pale-bellied white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to SE Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. The species has a limited distribution and also appears to be sensitive to human disturbance.
The São Tomé white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the island of São Tomé, where it occurs in the central massif and in the southwest. Its natural habitat is mid- to high-altitude forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. It was named by the Italian Tommaso Salvadori in 1901.
The canary white-eye or yellow white-eye is a species of white-eye endemic to northern Australia in subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. Its common name reflects the circle of white feathers around its eye.
Heuglin's white-eye, also known as the Ethiopian white-eye, is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in north-eastern and eastern Africa, primarily in Ethiopia and Kenya. Its natural habitats range from subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, to subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, plantations, and rural gardens.
The northern yellow white-eye, formerly the African yellow white-eye, is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is found across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in the west across to southern Sudan in the east and south to northern Angola.
The Príncipe white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. The species was described by Gustav Hartlaub in 1866. It is endemic to the islands of Príncipe and São Tomé, where it is restricted to the hilly interiors of the southern parts. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The pale white-eye also known as Kenya white-eye is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in central and eastern Kenya and in eastern Tanzania.
The broad-ringed white-eye or Kilimanjaro white-eye is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in northeast Tanzania.
The south Pare white-eye is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. Its range is restricted to the southern region of the Pare Mountains in northeastern Tanzania.
Swinhoe's white-eye is a bird species in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. It is found in east China, Taiwan, north Vietnam, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo.
Hume's white-eye is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in upland areas of Myanmar, southern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and Borneo.
The Sangkar white-eye is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is also known as the Sunda white-eye. It is found on the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali. It lives in forest, in Java it is typically found in altitudes from 200–1,600 m (660–5,250 ft), and sometimes lower than that.
The Socotra white-eye is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is found on the island of Socotra and in Somaliland.
The Aldabra white-eye is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the island of Aldabra in the Indian Ocean.
The southern yellow white-eye is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in parts of southern Africa. It was formerly considered conspecific with the African yellow white-eye.
The green white-eye is a bird species in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
