Vanikoro white-eye | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Zosteropidae |
Genus: | Zosterops |
Species: | Z. gibbsi |
Binomial name | |
Zosterops gibbsi Dutson, 2008 | |
The Vanikoro white-eye (Zosterops gibbsi) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Vanikoro in the Santa Cruz Islands of Temotu Province in the south-east of the Solomon Islands chain. [2] The species is named for David Gibbs, who discovered it.
The Vanikoro white-eye differs from its geographically closest congener, the Santa Cruz white-eye (Zosterops sanctaecrucis), by several features including a much longer bill and different eye-ring and leg colouring. [2]
The Santa Cruz Islands lie in the Vanuatu rain forests ecoregion. Within its range the Vanikoro white-eye is common in upland forests although it also occurs in degraded lowland forests.
Observations of the nest of the Vanikoro white-eye suggest that it is a cooperative breeder, with additional helpers aiding the breeding pair, an unusual trait in Zosterops white-eyes. The nest of this species is a deep bowl of woven grass stems. The species forages in trees and frequently feeds on the trunks of trees and on the underside of branches.
This species has been assessed by BirdLife International in 2016 as being one of Least Concern. The upland forests that comprise its main habitat are not thought to be threatened by deforestation and the island is seldom visited, reducing opportunities for the accidental introduction of dangerous invasive species, so the species is probably not threatened at the moment.
The Sri Lanka white-eye is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family, which is endemic to Sri Lanka. It is a resident breeder in forests, gardens and plantations, mainly in the highlands.
The Vanuatu rain forests are tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregion which includes the islands of Vanuatu, as well as the Santa Cruz Islands group of the neighboring Solomon Islands. It is part of the Australasian realm, which includes neighboring New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands, as well as Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand.
The Mauritius olive white-eye is a very rare and localized passerine from the family of white-eyes (Zosteropidae). It is one of two white-eye species endemic to the island of Mauritius, the other being the Mauritius grey white-eye.
The white-chested white-eye also known as white-breasted white-eye or Norfolk white-eye is a passerine from the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Norfolk Island between New Caledonia and New Zealand and it is regarded as either extremely rare or possibly extinct. Since 2000 the Australian government has considered the species extinct.
The Seychelles white-eye is a rare warbler-like perching bird from the family of white-eyes (Zosteropidae). It is endemic to the Seychelles. At one time thought to be extinct, it was rediscovered and is now listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
The Vanikoro monarch is a species of bird in the monarch family endemic to the Santa Cruz Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and it is threatened by habitat loss. Alternate names for the Vanikoro monarch include slaty flycatcher, small slaty flycatcher, small slaty monarch and the Vanikoro flycatcher.
The Vanikoro flycatcher is a species of monarch flycatcher in the family Monarchidae. It has a slightly disjunct distribution, occurring on Vanikoro island and in Fiji.
The Vanuatu white-eye or yellow-fronted white-eye is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Zosterops in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Vanuatu, where it is one of the most common birds.
The bridled white-eye was a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It was endemic to the island of Guam in the Mariana Islands. The species' natural habitat was subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. One traditionally recognized subspecies is endemic to the Northern Mariana Islands, on the islands of Tinian, Saipan and Aguijan.
The Fiji white-eye is a species of passerine bird in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. The species is also known as Layard's white-eye.
The Solomons white-eye or New Georgia white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the New Georgia Islands in the Solomon Islands. It is also known as Zosterops rendovae but this name properly refers to the grey-throated white-eye.
The yellow-throated white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in the Solomon Islands archipelago.
The grey-throated white-eye is a species of bird. Its family, the Zosteropidae, is probably not valid and belongs in the Timaliidae instead. It is also known as Zosterops ugiensis because Z. rendovae has often been used for the Solomons white-eye.
The Rennell white-eye or the bare-ringed white-eye, is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The Santa Cruz white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.
The Ranongga white-eye or splendid white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.
The robust white-eye, also known as the Lord Howe white-eye or robust silvereye and locally as the "big grinnell", was a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It was endemic to the lowland forests of Lord Howe Island, east of Australia.
The Vella Lavella white-eye, belted white-eye, or banded white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.
The Vanikoro flying fox, also known locally as basapine, is a species of bat in the family Pteropodidae. It has only been found in the Vanikoro island group located in the southern Solomon Islands. The species as a whole was originally known from just a few specimens collected sometime before 1930 but following surveys conducted on the island in the early 1990s did not detect this species again causing the Vanikoro flying fox to be listed as extinct. However, the species was rediscovered by a survey conducted in late 2014 which indicated a population in the high hundreds or low thousands and reported all observations.
David Gibbs is a British naturalist. His main research fields are the ornithology, the entomology, and the ecology.