Kosrae White-eye Zosterops cinereus Scientific name definitions

10–11 cm. Adult is deep greyish olive above, approaching mouse-grey on crown and upperwing-coverts; very narrow white eyering (often lacking); dirty pale or sepia below, flanks and side of breast somewhat darker than remainder, approaching colour of upperparts; iris reddish brown; bill leaden, tip blackish; legs light brown to lead-coloured. Sexes alike. Juvenile has conspicuously yellow bill with dark tip to maxilla, mostly yellow legs, and darker plumage.

Hitherto treated as conspecific with Z. ponapensis (which see); previously also with Z. finschii. Monotypic.

Kosrae, in extreme E Caroline Is.

Most vegetated habitats including mangroves, although highest densities are apparently in rainforest habitats; recorded to almost 600 m.

Not known. Presumed sedentary.

Few data. Diet consists of berries and seeds; presumably also some insects. Forages among twigs and leaves in bushes and small trees. Moves about singly and in pairs, but also often in noisy and quarrelsome flocks, typically numbering 4–8 individuals, sometimes in tops of tall trees.

Song apparently not certainly recorded, and it has been suggested recently that this species does not possess a dawn song. Calls mostly short, fairly loud chirps very like those of House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Call notes are of two main types: foraging birds or pairs utter a nasal, reedy “tschew” (similar calls of Z. ponapensis are higher-pitched and less reedy), while flocks give contrastingly loud and sharp calls, with the quality of a child’s squeaky toy, but do not call in flight; also isolated single notes that seem to function as alarm calls, or short bursts that may represent true song.

Fledglings being fed by parents in Feb and males collected in Mar were in breeding condition; juvenile reported in Jun. No other information.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: present in East Caroline Islands EBA. Common. Population size estimated at more than 200,000 individuals in 1980s, and is believed to be stable, as there is no evidence for any declines or substantial threats.