Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)

The Oriental White-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. It is a resident breeder in open woodland in tropical Asia east from India to China and Indonesia.

It is sociable, forming large flocks which only separate on the approach of the breeding season. It builds a tree nest and lays 2-5 unspotted pale blue eggs.

Though mainly insectivorous, the Oriental White-eye will also eat nectar and fruits of various kinds.

This species is about 10cm long. The plumage above is green, and the underparts are white except for a bright yellow throat and breast. It has rounded wings and strong legs.

The English and scientific names refer to the conspicuous ring of white feathers round the eyes, zosterops being Greek for ‘girdle-eye’.

In Sri Lanka, this species can be distinguished from the endemic Sri Lanka White-eye, Zosterops ceylonensis, by its smaller size and brighter back and throat.