- Zosterops poliogastrus
Includes: Kulal White-eye
Identification
11–12 cm (4¼-4¾ in)
- Yellow forehead and forecrown
- White eyering
- Black lores
- Narrow black line from lores through eye
- Greenish-yellow crown and upperparts
- Blackish-brown primaries
- Yellow chin and throat
- Dark brown tail
Distribution
Eastern Africa: found in Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Taxonomy
The scientific name is sometimes spelt poliogaster.
Kikuyu White-eye, Taita White-eye, South Pare White-eye, Kilimanjaro White-eye and Mbulu White-eye used to be included in this species.
Subspecies
There are 3 subspecies[1]:
- Z. p. poliogastrus - Mountains of Eritrea and Ethiopia
- Z. p. kaffensis - Highlands of west and south Ethiopia (south of Lake Tana, west of Omo River)
- Z. p. kulalensis - Kulal White-eye - Mount Kulal in North Kenya
Habitat
Evergreen woodland, forest edges and second growth. Occurs in highland areas as well as gardens and areas under cultivation.
Behaviour
Diet
Their main diet consists of small berries and invertebrates, with the addition of some nectar.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- van Balen, B., J. del Hoyo, N. Collar, and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Heuglin's White-eye (Zosterops poliogastrus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, B. K. Keeney, P. G. Rodewald, and T. S. Schulenberg, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.heuwhe2.01
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Heuglin's White-eye. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 October 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Heuglin%27s_White-eye