Cape White-Eye
Zosterops capensis
Woodland and gardens. Various races but all with underlying yellow plumage; greener above.
White-Eyes
LC
Endemic
Description
Common resident. Three basic colour morphs occur, with intergradings between them: (a) in the central to southern regions with grey underparts; (b) in eastern and highveld regions with greener more yellow underparts; (c) (not shown) southern Cape region similar to (a), some show a slight cinnamon-orange wash. The feeding call is a repeated melancholy ‘phe’ by several in a party. It also sings a loud rambling song from tree tops in summer (including much mimicry), plus a subdued warbling song from the depths of bushes. Flocks occur in almost any well-wooded habitat; often abundant in suburban gardens.
Quick Facts
Size
12 cm - S
Names
A: Kaapse Glasogie
Z: umbicini
Ss: Setona-Mahlwana
G: Oranjebrillenvogel
Bird Family
Very small yellow-green birds that glean insects from leaves and probe flowers for nectar. Unless breeding, they occur in flocks that go from tree to tree where they search the foliage closely, frequently in an inverted position. They are named for the ring of small, stiff white feathers surrounding their eyes, often mistaken for a skin-wattle. Immatures are duller and initially lack white eye-surround.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Flocks occur in almost any well-wooded habitat; often abundant in 'suburban' gardens.
