Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) is a member of the Zosteropidae family found in Australia & Oceania and Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 12.7 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 lateralis
Where it lives
Australia, New Zealand and outlying is., New Caledonia and western Pacific is. to Fiji (southwestern Polynesia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.7 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Zosteropidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Silvereye is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Silvereye is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) belongs to the Zosteropidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania and Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers AU, PO Australia, New Zealand and outlying is., New Caledonia and w Pacific is. to Fiji (sw Polynesia).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.7 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 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 2.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Silvereye?
The Silvereye is a very small bird that weighs around 12.7 g.
Where does the Silvereye live?
The Silvereye is found across Australia & Oceania and Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering AU, PO Australia, New Zealand and outlying is., New Caledonia and w Pacific is. to Fiji (sw Polynesia), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Silvereye belong to?
The Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) belongs to the Zosteropidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Silvereye eat?
The Silvereye is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Silvereye migrate?
The Silvereye is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Silvereye 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 Silvereye make?
1 real field recording of the Silvereye — 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 Silvereye's range?
The Silvereye has a mapped global range of about 2.7 million 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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Guides for this bird
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