The Oriental White-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus, is a small passerinebird in the white-eye family. It is a resident breeder in open woodland in tropical Asia east from India to China and Indonesia.
It is sociable, forming large flocks which only separate on the approach of the breeding season. It builds a tree nest and lays 2-5 unspotted pale blue eggs.
Though mainly insectivorous, the Oriental White-eye will also eat nectar and fruits of various kinds.
This species is about 10cm long. The plumage above is green, and the underparts are white except for a bright yellow throat and breast. It has rounded wings and strong legs.
The English and scientific names refer to the conspicuous ring of white feathers round the eyes, zosterops being Greek for 'girdle-eye'.
In Sri Lanka, this species can be distinguished from the endemic Sri Lanka White-eye, Zosterops ceylonensis, by its smaller size and brighter back and throat.
Reference
Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6
The birds of this group are mostly of undistinguished appearance, the plumage above being generally either mouse-coloured or greenish olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks.
The Silvereye can be a problem in Australian vineyards, through piercing the grape allowing infection or insect damage to follow.
The scientific name of the group derives from the Greek for girdle-eye, and refers to the ring of white feathers round the eyes, which is very conspicuous in many species.
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