Orange River white-eye

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Orange River white-eye
Adult bird, lower Orange River, showing the sulphur-coloured face markings and tawny buff flanks and sides of breast

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1
)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae
Genus: Zosterops
Species:
Z. pallidus
Binomial name
Zosterops pallidus
Swainson, 1838
range[1][2]
  Z. pallidus only
  Z. pallidus in sympatry with Z. virens
  Cape white-eye (Z. virens) only

The Orange River white-eye (Zosterops pallidus) is a species of bird in the family

Zosteropidae, which is native to Namibia and South Africa. It was formerly deemed conspecific with the Cape white-eye (Zosterops virens), but the two species occur sympatrically in central South Africa, and they are genetically distinct.[2]

Subspecies

Four subspecies have been proposed based on plumage colour and size differences:[2]

  • Zosterops pallidus pallidus — Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng, Free State
  • Zosterops pallidus sundevalli Hartlaub — tributaries of upper Orange and lower to mid Vaal River
  • Zosterops pallidus deserticola Reichenow — lower Orange River and its tributaries
  • Zosterops pallidus haigamchabensis — northern Namibia to Northern Cape, South Africa

Range

It occurs at highest densities in the catchment areas of the

mopane-veld in the far north. In dry regions it associates with vegetation fringing periodically dry streambeds.[1] No extensive movements have been recorded.[2]

Habitat

Forages in native and introduced willows (

Salix spp.), currant-rhus (Searsia spp.), thorn trees (Acacia) and reeds (Phragmites). Commonly found in gardens, parks and plantations where it frequents any available vegetation.[2]

Description

The sexes are alike and

olive green upper part plumage, a yellow throat and supraloral stripe, and a tawny buff tone to the flanks and sides of breast, which is regionally diagnostic.[2] The lore plumage and bare parts are black. The juvenile plumage is a pale version of the adult's, and the white eye-rings appear during the second month.[2]

Habits

They glean insects from foliage and tree bark, but also take small fruit, including dry Searsia berries.[2] Outside the breeding season they move about in small foraging parties. Individuals loosely follow the trail of a leading bird, and they have been noticed to mix with non-breeding Cape white-eyes. The usual song is subdued and muted except when excited,[2] but a sustained warbling song is heard in the breeding season.

Nesting

They breed during the summer months. Breeding information is very incomplete,[2] but a clutch of three pale blue eggs has been recorded.[2] Dry pliable plant material is used in building the deep cup nest, which is slung between horizontal twigs and strengthened with cobweb.[3]

Gallery

  • Perched on a Phragmitis reed near Aussenkehr, lower Orange River
    Perched on a Phragmitis reed near Aussenkehr, lower Orange River
  • Near Aussenkehr on the lower Orange River
    Near Aussenkehr on the lower Orange River

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-620-20730-2
    . Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-620-34053-3
    .
  3. ISBN 1-86872-616-9
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orange_River_white-eye&oldid=1126818035"