Papuan White-eye
Zosterops novaeguineae
Papuan White-eye (Zosterops novaeguineae) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Papuan White-eye (Zosterops novaeguineae) is a member of the Zosteropidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 12.5 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 novaeguineae
Where it lives
Northwestern, eastern New Guinea and Aru Is. (southwest of New Guinea)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.5 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Zosteropidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Papuan White-eye is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Papuan White-eye is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Papuan White-eye (Zosterops novaeguineae) is a member of the Zosteropidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU nw, e New Guinea and Aru Is. (sw of New Guinea).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.5 cm and a tail of around 3.6 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 103,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Papuan White-eye?
The Papuan White-eye is a very small bird that weighs around 12.5 g.
Where does the Papuan White-eye live?
The Papuan White-eye is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU nw, e New Guinea and Aru Is. (sw of New Guinea), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Papuan White-eye belong to?
The Papuan White-eye (Zosterops novaeguineae) belongs to the Zosteropidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Papuan White-eye eat?
The Papuan White-eye is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Papuan White-eye migrate?
The Papuan White-eye is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Papuan 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 Papuan White-eye make?
1 real field recording of the Papuan 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 Papuan White-eye's range?
The Papuan White-eye has a mapped global range of about 103,000 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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