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Taita White-eye Zosterops silvanus Scientific name definitions

Josep del Hoyo, Nigel Collar, and Guy M. Kirwan
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated September 25, 2019

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Field Identification

11–11·3 cm. Adult is rather small, with very broad (4 mm) white eyering but yellow restricted to supraloral band, crown and upperparts green; flight-feathers and primary-coverts blackish brown, edged green to yellowish green, tail dark brown with narrow green outer edges; breast to belly and flanks grey (darker than in formerly conspecific Z. winifredae), without whitish central stripe, chin to throat and undertail-coverts greenish yellow; axillaries pale yellow, underwing-coverts white with yellow tinge; iris brown or hazel; bill black; legs slate to pale grey. Sexes alike. Immature resembles adult.

Systematics History

Usually treated as conspecific with Z. poliogastrus, but see comments under that species. Differs from poliogastrus by its dark green vs yellow forehead (3); greatly reduced yellow on throat (2); much darker grey flanks (2); very large eyering (mensural character; 3); and much shorter wing (2); from Z. kaffensis by its dark green vs yellow forehead (3); greatly reduced yellow on throat and none on belly (3); extensive dark grey vs olive-green flanks (3); very large eyering (3); and much shorter wing (2); from Z. kulalensis by its dark green vs yellow forehead (3); greatly reduced yellow on throat (2); darker and more extensive grey flanks (2); very large eyering (3); and somewhat shorter wing (at least 1); from Z. kikuyuensis by its dark green vs yellow forehead (3); greatly reduced yellow on throat and none on belly (3); dark and more extensive grey vs deep olive-green flanks (3); and larger eyering (1); from Z. eurycricotus by its duller, greener throat (1); darkish grey vs olive-green flanks (3); slightly whitish vs narrowly yellow belly (2); and shorter wing (at least 1); from Z. mbuluensis by its dark green vs yellow forehead (2); greatly reduced yellow on throat and none on belly (3); extensive darkish grey vs narrow olive-green flanks (3); and much larger eyering (2); and from Z. winifredae in characters given under that species. Recent research suggests most of these taxa are also vocally distinct from one another (1), but work needed to assess levels of divergence. Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

Mt Kasigau and Taita Hills, in SE Kenya.

Habitat

Edge habitats in highland forest, scrub, wooded gardens and remnant patches of trees, with a preference for tall trees with moss-covered branches, areas with abundant flowers, new leaves and fruit. Shuns non-native pines (Pinus) plantations, but will forage and nest in other exotic trees, especially Cupressus. Elevational range 840–1725 m.

Movement

Sedentary.

Diet and Foraging

Diet largely unknown, but presumably insects, berries and nectar, and preferred fruits include those of Maesa lanceolata (Myrsinaceae) and Xymalos monospora (Monimiaceae), with small quantities of Rapanea melanophloeos (Myrsinaceae) and Trema orientalis (Ulmaceae) berries. Foraging behaviour presumably largely as described for Z. kikuyuensis. Typically observed in the Taita Hills in flocks of c.15 individuals (many fewer in the smallest fragments, especially in the wet season), but up to 135–175 birds have been seen together on Mt Kasigau, where flocks of up to 80 commonly reported.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song described as a slow, rising, warbling “see tee tew chew, tew see te tew see-chew...”, with a “pinched” quality. Typical buzzing and twittering calls from moving flock.

Breeding

No specific information, but said to breed year-round; high predation rates also reported.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife VU Vulnerable

ENDANGERED. Previously considered Critically Endangered, subsequently downlisted to Endangered; a restricted-range species, present in Kenyan Mountains EBA. Following a study in 1998–1999, population estimated at 7100 mature individuals, but more recently at fewer than 1000 birds. Occurs in and adjacent to tiny areas (less than 3 km²) of forest remaining on Taita Hills and similarly small area on nearby Mt Kasigau, its main stronghold (very high density of 26 birds/ha, 80% of total population), but no interchange found between the hills and Mt Kasigau. Taita Hills have experienced c. 98% forest reduction, with more than 50% having been lost since 1955: three large forest blocks (86–220 ha) and nine smaller ones (2–8 ha) remain. Forest on Mt Kasigau is, so far, well protected by the local population, who rely on its streams for their water supply, while the Forest Department is now safeguarding the remnant fragments on the Taita Hills, and a collaborative research project includes a large ornithological component which aims to provide the necessary ecological data to plan conservation policies for this species and other endemics in the area. Despite abundance and capability of foraging far from forested areas, Z. silvanus is at risk because of further degradation of the core area.

Distribution of the Broad-ringed White-eye (Taita) - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Broad-ringed White-eye (Taita)

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

del Hoyo, J., N. Collar, and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Taita White-eye (Zosterops silvanus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.brrwhe4.01
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