Green-backed White-eye
Encyclopedia
The Green-backed White-eye (Zosterops xanthochroa) is a species of bird
in the Zosteropidae family. It is also known as the New Caledonian White-eye.
It is endemic to New Caledonia
.
in 1858 from a specimen collected in Nu. The relationships between this species and other white-eyes are uncertain, but it may form a superspecies with the Small Lifou White-eye, also from New Caledonia, the Fiji White-eye and the Yellow-fronted White-eye
(from Vanuatu). This speculative proposal is based upon the shared yellow underparts and their living in the same general region.
, as well as Maré
in the Loyalty Islands
. It is replaced on Lifou by the Small and Large Lifou White-eyes. It is primarily a bird of primary rainforest, from sea level up, although it becomes rare above 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft). It will also enter native gardens and open glades, as well as more open areas opportunistically in order to reach ripening fruit and berries. In the more open brush and woodland habitats it is generally replaced by the related Silvereye
.
Although the Green-backed White-eye has a tiny global range, it is common in it's range, especially in the south of Grande Terre and the island of Maré. The species is thought to be decreasing in numbers, due to habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, but not at a rate sufficient to be evaluated as Vulnerable
. It is therefore listed as Least Concern
by the IUCN. In a study of cave fossils this species and the Silvereye are the most commonly found fossil remains.
of juvenile birds has not been described.
and the berries of the introduced Lantana
. They will form feeding flocks after the breeding season, which may increase in size as the months pass. Such flocks will also venture outside the primary rainforests in order to take seasonally variable food sources, and will form mixed species feeding flocks with Silvereyes, Fan-tailed Gerygone
s, and Red-throated Parrotfinch
es. They are themselves preyed upon by Barn Owl
s.
The main breeding season for this species is from August to October, but there is considerable uncertainty about the exact timing and it is possible the season extends to January or that the species double broods. The species builds a nest of rootlets, hair, feathers, and cobwebs in the fork of a branch of a tree or shrub. Between two to four turquoise eggs are laid, measuring 16.5 by 13 mm.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Zosteropidae family. It is also known as the New Caledonian White-eye.
It is endemic to New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
.
Taxonomy
The Green-backed White-eye was described by George Robert GrayGeorge Robert Gray
George Robert Gray FRS was an English zoologist and author, and head of the ornithological section of the British Museum, now the Natural History Museum, in London for forty-one years...
in 1858 from a specimen collected in Nu. The relationships between this species and other white-eyes are uncertain, but it may form a superspecies with the Small Lifou White-eye, also from New Caledonia, the Fiji White-eye and the Yellow-fronted White-eye
Yellow-fronted White-eye
The Vanuatu White-eye or Yellow-fronted White-eye is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Zosterops in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Vanuatu where it is one of the most common birds....
(from Vanuatu). This speculative proposal is based upon the shared yellow underparts and their living in the same general region.
Distribution and habitat
The Green-backed White-eye is endemic to the islands of New Caledonia, where it is found on Grande Terre, the main island, the smaller L'Île-des-PinsL'Île-des-Pins
L'Île-des-Pins is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. L'Île-des-Pins is made up of the Isle of Pines, the smaller Kôtomo Island, and several islets around these two, as well as the distant island of Walpole, which is located almost...
, as well as Maré
Maré
Maré is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.The commune of Maré is made up of Maré Island and the much smaller Dudun Island, which lie among the Loyalty Islands, to the northeast of New Caledonia's mainland. The settlement...
in the Loyalty Islands
Loyalty Islands
The Loyalty Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific. They are part of the French territory of New Caledonia, whose mainland is away. They form the Loyalty Islands Province , one of the three provinces of New Caledonia...
. It is replaced on Lifou by the Small and Large Lifou White-eyes. It is primarily a bird of primary rainforest, from sea level up, although it becomes rare above 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft). It will also enter native gardens and open glades, as well as more open areas opportunistically in order to reach ripening fruit and berries. In the more open brush and woodland habitats it is generally replaced by the related Silvereye
Silvereye
The Silvereye or Wax-eye is a very small passerine bird native to Australia, New Zealand and the south-west Pacific islands of Lord Howe, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji...
.
Although the Green-backed White-eye has a tiny global range, it is common in it's range, especially in the south of Grande Terre and the island of Maré. The species is thought to be decreasing in numbers, due to habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, but not at a rate sufficient to be evaluated as Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Vulnerable may refer to:*Vulnerability* Vulnerable , 2003* Vulnerable , 1997* Vulnerable , 2012* "Vulnerable" , a 1994 song by Roxette...
. It is therefore listed as Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
by the IUCN. In a study of cave fossils this species and the Silvereye are the most commonly found fossil remains.
Description
The Green-backed White-eye is 11.5 – in length and weighs around 8.5 –. The head and back are dark olive green with a wide white eye-ring and black lores (which breaks the eye-ring at the front), the throat and breast are yellow and the undersides are dirty white. The wings are brown and olive green. The bill is slate coloured with white at the base of the lower mandible, and the legs are pale slate coloured as well. Both sexes are alike, but the plumagePlumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
of juvenile birds has not been described.
Behaviour and ecology
Green-backed White-eyes feed on a variety of fruits and insects. Among the fruits taken are papayaPapaya
The papaya , papaw, or pawpaw is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya, the sole species in the genus Carica of the plant family Caricaceae...
and the berries of the introduced Lantana
Lantana
Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa but exist as an introduced species in numerous areas, especially in the Australian-Pacific region. The genus includes both...
. They will form feeding flocks after the breeding season, which may increase in size as the months pass. Such flocks will also venture outside the primary rainforests in order to take seasonally variable food sources, and will form mixed species feeding flocks with Silvereyes, Fan-tailed Gerygone
Fan-tailed Gerygone
The Fan-tailed Gerygone is a species of bird in the Acanthizidae family.It is found in New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 26 July 2007....
s, and Red-throated Parrotfinch
Red-throated Parrotfinch
The Red-throated Parrotfinch, Erythrura psittacea, is a species of estrildid finch found in New Caledonia. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 20,000 to 50,000 km²....
es. They are themselves preyed upon by Barn Owl
Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
s.
The main breeding season for this species is from August to October, but there is considerable uncertainty about the exact timing and it is possible the season extends to January or that the species double broods. The species builds a nest of rootlets, hair, feathers, and cobwebs in the fork of a branch of a tree or shrub. Between two to four turquoise eggs are laid, measuring 16.5 by 13 mm.