Photo: Yvette Biron / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Malagasy White-eye
Zosterops maderaspatanus
Malagasy White-eye (Zosterops maderaspatanus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Malagasy White-eye (Zosterops maderaspatanus) is a member of the Zosteropidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 8.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Zosteropidae White-eyes
- Genus Zosterops
- Species maderaspatanus
Where it lives
Europa (Mozambique Channel), southwestern Seychelles, Madagascar and satellites
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Zosteropidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Malagasy White-eye is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Malagasy White-eye is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Malagasy White-eye (Zosterops maderaspatanus) belongs to the Zosteropidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Europa (Mozambique Channel), sw Seychelles, Madagascar and satellites.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.9 g, with a wing length of about 5.4 cm and a tail of around 4.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 592,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Malagasy White-eye?
The Malagasy White-eye is a very small bird that weighs around 8.9 g.
Where does the Malagasy White-eye live?
The Malagasy White-eye is found across Africa with a range covering AF Europa (Mozambique Channel), sw Seychelles, Madagascar and satellites, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Malagasy White-eye belong to?
The Malagasy White-eye (Zosterops maderaspatanus) belongs to the Zosteropidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Malagasy White-eye eat?
The Malagasy White-eye is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Malagasy White-eye migrate?
The Malagasy White-eye is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Malagasy White-eye endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Malagasy White-eye make?
1 real field recording of the Malagasy White-eye — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Malagasy White-eye's range?
The Malagasy White-eye has a mapped global range of about 592,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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