Photo: Lip Kee from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ethiopian White-eye
Zosterops poliogastrus
Ethiopian White-eye (Zosterops poliogastrus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Ethiopian White-eye (Zosterops poliogastrus) is a member of the Zosteropidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 11 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 poliogastrus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Zosteropidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ethiopian White-eye is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Ethiopian White-eye is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Ethiopian White-eye (Zosterops poliogastrus) is a species of bird in the Zosteropidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF se Sudan, Eritrea and n, c, e Ethiopia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11 g, with a wing length of about 6.2 cm and a tail of around 4.8 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 325,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ethiopian White-eye?
The Ethiopian White-eye is a very small bird that weighs around 11 g.
Where does the Ethiopian White-eye live?
The Ethiopian White-eye is found across Africa with a range covering AF se Sudan, Eritrea and n, c, e Ethiopia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Ethiopian White-eye belong to?
The Ethiopian White-eye (Zosterops poliogastrus) belongs to the Zosteropidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Ethiopian White-eye eat?
The Ethiopian White-eye is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Ethiopian White-eye migrate?
The Ethiopian White-eye is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Ethiopian 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 Ethiopian White-eye make?
1 real field recording of the Ethiopian 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 Ethiopian White-eye's range?
The Ethiopian White-eye has a mapped global range of about 325,000 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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