Family White-eyes and Yuhinas (Zosteropidae)

Least Concern

Black-fronted White-eye (Zosterops chrysolaemus)

figure, drawing, illustration of Black-fronted White-eye (Zosterops chrysolaemus)

Taxonomy

French: Zostérops de Salvadori German: Neuguineabrillenvogel Spanish: Anteojitos carinegro
Taxonomy:

Zosterops chrysolaema

Salvadori

, 1876,

Monte Arfak

.

Hitherto treated as part of Z. atrifrons or Z. minor; differs from latter in characters given under that species. Proposed race tenuifrons (from Wau, in Morobe district of E New Guinea) synonymized with chrysolaemus; and pallidogularis (from Fergusson I, in D’Entrecasteaux Is) considered indistinguishable from delicatulus. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution
  • Z. c. chrysolaemus Salvadori, 1876 – mountains of Vogelkop (Tamrau Mts, Arfak Mts, Fakfak Mts), S watershed of New Guinea, and Herzog Mts E to Hydrographer Range.
  • Z. c. gregarius Mayr, 1933 – NE New Guinea (Huon Peninsula).
  • Z. c. delicatulus Sharpe, 1882 – S slopes of mountains of SE New Guinea (E to Milne Bay), and D’Entrecasteaux Is (Goodenough I, Fergusson I).

    • Descriptive notes

    11 cm; 11–12 g. Adult nominate race has lower forehead and lores black, broad white eyering; upper forehead and crown to sides of neck, hindneck and upperparts green,... read more

    Voice

    Not well known. Gives distinctive loud warbling twitter of 4–5 (sometimes up to 12) notes on... read more

    Habitat

    Hill forest and forest edge, locally town gardens (Wau); almost exclusively in mountains, at 500–... read more

    Food and feeding

    Insects and fruits; latter include berries and arillate fruits, of various figs (Ficus), Schefflera, Polyscias... read more

    Breeding

    “Breeding individuals” in Oct and Nov, and laying females in E Huon Peninsula in late Dec and early Jan. No other information.

    Movements

    Little known. Probably resident.

    Status and conservation

    Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Common. Population size not known, and population trends uncertain as impacts of habitat modification on this species are poorly... read more

    Recommended citation

    del Hoyo, J., Collar, N. & Christie, D.A. (2019). Black-fronted White-eye (Zosterops chrysolaemus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/1343965 on 20 August 2019).