Layard's White-eye Zosterops explorator Scientific name definitions

10–11 cm; 10·5 g. Has well-developed entire white eyering, blackish stripe from under lores continuing back under eyering; top of head and entire upperparts yellowish-olive, more yellow on forehead and lores; remiges and rectrices brownish-black, edged yellowish-olive; chin, throat and breast lemon-yellow, undertail-coverts paler yellow, sides tawny-buff, remainder of underparts greyish-white, yellowish wash along middle; iris brown; bill black or brown above, horn-coloured below; legs grey. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed, but plumage of nestling only slightly paler than that of adult.

Fiji Is: Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Viti Levu, Ovalau and Kadavu.

Occurs in many habitats, especially forest (including hill forest) and plantations; has preference for inland habitats. Overlaps broadly with Z. lateralis, but there is little intermingling of the two species; latter is typical of open habitats and forest edge, whereas present species tends to be more common in heavily forested areas.

Not known.

Insects recorded. Moves about in small parties of ten or more individuals; sometimes found in mixed flocks with Z. lateralis. Gleans foliage of small trees and shrubs. Visits cotton (Gossypium) fields to devour the minute insects that infest the cotton buds.

Song a rambling series of unvarying notes. Call a high-pitched reedy “seeu-seeu” or “pleeu”, and squeaky “seee”; also short “zick”.

Nestling in Nov. Nest reported typical of genus. Clutch 2 eggs, bluish-white. No other data.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Fiji EBA. Common to fairly common.