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Silver Eye

Zosterops lateralis

Photo by SeanWeekly
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Silvereyes are omnivorous but have a particular fondness for fruit. Some orchardists, grape growers, and home gardeners regard them as a serious pest particularly as, being so small, they simply ignore bird nets, popping in and out through the netting at will.

Habitat:

Found in busy woodlands in back garden

Notes:

Found a few of these really tiny birds yesterday in my friends back garden.

Species ID Suggestions

Silvereye

Zosterops lateralis
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
2

Comments (6)
Mark Ridgway
Nice shot Sean. They usually move around to much for me.
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
I should have noticed earlier when I saw the tinge of orange on the flanks. These birds have variable plumages depending on which part of Australia you see them in but on north-west coasts they are replaced by white-eyes. As you go further west the Silvereye turns yellower and loses the grey mantle while further east and across to New Zealand the grey becomes much darker.
SeanWeekly
Malcolm you are spot on, Thank you very much for your help with the help ID, much appreciated :)
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
Sorry Sean, should have checked the location, in Australia it is called Silvereye, I will change my ID.
SeanWeekly
it sort of had a yellow green head as you can see in the picture, I think you are spot on with the ID but the web says these birds are only native to Asia? Have they been introduced to Australia? Appreciate the help Malcolm
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
Sean, I'm fairly certain about the ID, I think I can just see the tinge of yellow behind a branch. Can you confirm please, the Oriental has a thin yellow line in the centre of the breast, the Japanese does not.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 5, 2012

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