There is some uncertainty about the number of subspecies on Réunion, with most authorities only accepting a single, the nominate (Z. b. borbonicus), while some also accept Z. b. alopekion, and Z. b. xerophilus. When only a single Réunion subspecies is accepted, alopekion and xerophilus are considered to represent morphs of the nominate.[citation needed]
Descriptionedit
It has a length of 9.5 cm. Its plumage exhibits colour morphs which vary from gray to brown. The tail coverts are conspicuously white, unlike those of the Réunion olive white-eye. The rest of the body plumage is variable in hue, though invariably lighter than that of the previous species.[4] It is typically blue-grey with a brownish wash to the mantle, and distinctly rufous-brown flanks. It has chestnut-coloured eyes with a very indistinct eye-ring, as opposed to that of the Réunion olive white-eye. In both species the breast and flank feathers create a white "epaulette" effect.[4]
Biologyedit
It inhabits woodlands, forests, and gardens. It is the only endemic bird from Réunion which has adapted to man-made conditions. Its diet consists of insects, fruits and nectar. It is also the pollinator for orchids like Angraecum striatum or the endemic Trochetia species. It moves often in small groups from six to twenty birds in search of food. They are very noisy. The breeding period is in the southern summer. The female lays two to four pale blue eggs in a cup-shaped nest which is padded with plant material.
Galleryedit
Brown morph at Col des Boeufs displaying white "epaulettes"
^del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2008). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Lynx Edicions. ISBN978-84-96553-45-3
^Gill F. and Donsker D. (eds), Family Zosteropidae, in IOC World Bird Names (ver 6.2), International Ornithologists’ Union, 2016. URL [1]
^ abSinclair, Ian; Langrand, Olivier (1998). Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. pp. 150–151. ISBN1-86872-035-7.
Bibliographyedit
France Staub: Birds of the Mascarenes and Saint Brandon. LABAMA HOUSE, Port Louis, Mauritius, 1976.
France Staub: Fauna of Mauritius and associated flora. Précigraph Limited, Port Louis, Mauritius, 1993.
Claire Micheneau, Jacques Fournel & Thierry Pailler: Bird Pollination in an Angraecoid Orchid on Reunion Island (Mascarene Archipelago, Indian Ocean). Annals of Botany 97: S. 965–974, 2006 doi:10.1093/aob/mcl056 PDF fulltext[dead link]
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zosterops borbonicus.
Mascarene White-eye video on the Internet Bird Collection
This Zosteropidae-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
réunion, grey, white, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Reunion grey white eye news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Reunion grey white eye Zosterops borbonicus is a small passerine from the family Zosteropidae 1 which is native to the islands of Reunion 2 Reunion grey white eyeOn the slopes of La Roche EcriteBrown morph at Plaine des ChicotsConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PasseriformesFamily ZosteropidaeGenus ZosteropsSpecies Z borbonicusBinomial nameZosterops borbonicus Pennant 1781 Range highlighted in green Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Biology 4 Gallery 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksTaxonomy editThe taxon mauritianus by most authorities previously considered a subspecies is now usually considered a separate monotypic species the Mauritius grey white eye Zosterops mauritianus Together both species were called Mascarene white eye 3 There is some uncertainty about the number of subspecies on Reunion with most authorities only accepting a single the nominate Z b borbonicus while some also accept Z b alopekion and Z b xerophilus When only a single Reunion subspecies is accepted alopekion and xerophilus are considered to represent morphs of the nominate citation needed Description editIt has a length of 9 5 cm Its plumage exhibits colour morphs which vary from gray to brown The tail coverts are conspicuously white unlike those of the Reunion olive white eye The rest of the body plumage is variable in hue though invariably lighter than that of the previous species 4 It is typically blue grey with a brownish wash to the mantle and distinctly rufous brown flanks It has chestnut coloured eyes with a very indistinct eye ring as opposed to that of the Reunion olive white eye In both species the breast and flank feathers create a white epaulette effect 4 Biology editIt inhabits woodlands forests and gardens It is the only endemic bird from Reunion which has adapted to man made conditions Its diet consists of insects fruits and nectar It is also the pollinator for orchids like Angraecum striatum or the endemic Trochetia species It moves often in small groups from six to twenty birds in search of food They are very noisy The breeding period is in the southern summer The female lays two to four pale blue eggs in a cup shaped nest which is padded with plant material Gallery edit nbsp Brown morph at Col des Boeufs displaying white epaulettes nbsp Foraging at a banana inflorescence at Saint DenisReferences edit del Hoyo J Elliot A amp Christie D editors 2008 Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 13 Penduline tits to Shrikes Lynx Edicions ISBN 978 84 96553 45 3 Gill F and Donsker D eds Family Zosteropidae in IOC World Bird Names ver 6 2 International Ornithologists Union 2016 URL 1 Otto Finsch Zosteropidae Volume 15 1901 a b Sinclair Ian Langrand Olivier 1998 Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands Cape Town Struik Publishers pp 150 151 ISBN 1 86872 035 7 Bibliography editFrance Staub Birds of the Mascarenes and Saint Brandon LABAMA HOUSE Port Louis Mauritius 1976 France Staub Fauna of Mauritius and associated flora Precigraph Limited Port Louis Mauritius 1993 Claire Micheneau Jacques Fournel amp Thierry Pailler Bird Pollination in an Angraecoid Orchid on Reunion Island Mascarene Archipelago Indian Ocean Annals of Botany 97 S 965 974 2006 doi 10 1093 aob mcl056 PDF fulltext dead link External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zosterops borbonicus Encyclopedia Mauritiana Grey White eye Mascarene White eye video on the Internet Bird Collection nbsp This Zosteropidae related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reunion grey white eye amp oldid 1195955893, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
