Zosteropidae – White-eyes, Yuhinas & Allies
Zosteropidae (White-eyes, Yuhinas & allies) are small passerines native to tropical, subtropical and temperate Sub-Saharan Africa, southern & eastern Asia, and Australasia. They inhabit most tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, the western Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Guinea. Discounting some widespread members of the genus Zosterops, most species are endemic to single islands or archipelagos. The Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis, naturally colonised New Zealand, where it is known as the ‘wax-eye’ or tauhou (stranger), from 1855. The Silvereye has also been introduced to the Society Islands in French Polynesia, while the Japanese White-eye has been introduced to Hawaii.
The white-eyes were long considered a distinct family Zosteropidae because they are rather homogeneous in morphology and ecology, leading to little adaptive radiation and divergence. The genus Apalopteron, formerly placed in the Meliphagidae, was transferred to the white eyes on genetic and behavioural evidence. It differs much in appearance from the typical white-eyes, Zosterops, but is approached by some Micronesian taxa; its colour pattern is fairly unusual save the imperfect white eye-ring.
White-collared Yuhina Parayuhina diademata
Black-chinned Yuhina Yuhina nigrimenta
The two photos above courtesy of ©Dubi Shapiro
Until recently that Yuhina’s were thought to be completely separate and placed in the waste bin family of old-world babblers. However, a number of molecular studies, including an extensive study of mitochondria DNA, led to them being added into the newly delineated Family. Several other species have now been placed elsewhere, such as the Madanga being placed in the Motacillidae. It is also clear that speciation among white-eyes is more widespread than formally realised and in recent times around a dozen species have been split off. More work in this area remains.
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Silvereye Zosterops lateralis |
Lowland White-eye Zosterops meyeni |
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Rennell White-eye Zosterops rennellianus |
Sri Lanka White-eye Zosterops ceylonensis |
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The four photos above courtesy of ©Nick Ludovic Green Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA |
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White-eyes are mostly of undistinguished appearance, the plumage being generally greenish olive above, and pale grey below. Some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their common name implies, many species have a conspicuous ring of tiny white feathers around their eyes. The scientific name of the group also reflects this latter feature, being derived from the Ancient Greek for ‘girdle-eye’. They have rounded wings and strong legs. Like many other nectivorous birds, they have slender, pointed bills, and brush-tipped tongues. The size ranges up to 15 cm in length.
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Bismarck White-eye Zosterops hypoxanthus |
Yellow-throated White-eye Zosterops metcalfii |
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The two photos above courtesy of ©Nick Ludovic Green Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA |
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The very widespread Japanese White-eye is quite typical of Zosterops genus. It is olive-green on its back from anterior to posterior and is pale green on its underside. It’s feet, legs, and beak range from black to brown. It has a green forehead and a yellow throat. It is rounded Wings on a long slender pill both of which indicate this Bird to be very acrobatic it’s Wings are dark brown but outlined in green. Like white eyes, this species exhibits that distinctive white eye-ring that gives its name to the family. Adults range in size from ten to thirteen centimetres in length and weigh between ten and thirteen grams.
Mindanao Heleia Heleia goodfellowi – ©Dubi Shapiro
All the species of white-eyes are sociable, forming large flocks which only separate on the approach of the breeding season. They build tree nests and lay two to four unspotted pale blue eggs. Though mainly insectivorous, they eat nectar and fruits of various kinds. The silvereye can be a problem in Australian vineyards, through piercing the grape allowing infection or insect damage to follow.
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Number of bird species: 147
(As at January 2026)
According to the recently (2025) amalgamated AviList, there are one hundred and forty-seven species, in thirteen genera in the Zosteropidae family. They are:
White-collared Yuhina Parayuhina diademata
Chestnut-crested Yuhina Staphida everetti
Striated Yuhina Staphida castaniceps
Indochinese Yuhina Staphida torqueola
Black-chinned Yuhina Yuhina nigrimenta
Taiwan Yuhina Yuhina brunneiceps
Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis
Burmese Yuhina Yuhina humilis
White-naped Yuhina Yuhina bakeri
Stripe-throated Yuhina Yuhina gularis
Rufous-vented Yuhina Yuhina occipitalis
Golden White-eye Cleptornis marchei
Bonin White-eye Apalopteron familiare
Flame-templed Babbler Dasycrotapha speciosa
Visayan Pygmy Babbler Dasycrotapha pygmaea
Mindanao Pygmy Babbler Dasycrotapha plateni
Rusty-crowned Babbler Sterrhoptilus capitalis
Golden-crowned Babbler Sterrhoptilus dennistouni
Calabarzon Babbler Sterrhoptilus affinis
Black-crowned Babbler Sterrhoptilus nigrocapitatus
Palawan Striped Babbler Zosterornis hypogrammicus
Luzon Striped Babbler Zosterornis striatus
Chestnut-faced Babbler Zosterornis whiteheadi
Panay Striped Babbler Zosterornis latistriatus
Negros Striped Babbler Zosterornis nigrorum
Giant White-eye Megazosterops palauensis
Mees’s White-eye Heleia javanica
Grey-hooded White-eye Heleia pinaiae
Pygmy White-eye Heleia squamifrons
Mindanao White-eye Heleia goodfellowi
Streak-headed White-eye Heleia squamiceps
Cream-browed White-eye Heleia superciliaris
Crested White-eye Heleia dohertyi
Spot-breasted Heleia Heleia muelleri
Thick-billed Heleia Heleia crassirostris
Yellow-spectacled White-eye Heleia wallacei
Rufescent Darkeye Tephrozosterops stalkeri
Teardrop White-eye Rukia ruki
Long-billed White-eye Rukia longirostra
Sri Lanka White-eye Zosterops ceylonensis
Yellowish White-eye Zosterops nigrorum
Black-capped White-eye Zosterops atricapilla
Pale White-eye Zosterops flavilateralis
Mbulu White-eye Zosterops mbuluensis
Chestnut-flanked White-eye Zosterops erythropleurus
Swinhoe’s White-eye Zosterops simplex
Mountain Black-eye Zosterops emiliae
Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus
Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
Lowland White-eye Zosterops meyeni
Marianne White-eye Zosterops semiflavus
Karthala White-eye Zosterops mouroniensis
Reunion Olive White-eye Zosterops olivaceus
Mauritius Olive White-eye Zosterops chloronothos
Reunion Grey White-eye Zosterops borbonicus
Mauritius Grey White-eye Zosterops mauritianus
Abyssinian White-eye Zosterops abyssinicus
Socotra White-eye Zosterops socotranus
Mount Cameroon White-eye Zosterops melanocephalus
Forest White-eye Zosterops stenocricotus
Green White-eye Zosterops stuhlmanni
Broad-ringed White-eye Zosterops eurycricotus
Fernando Po Speirops Zosterops brunneus
Montane White-eye Zosterops poliogastrus
Kaffa White-eye Zosterops kaffensis
Kikuyu White-eye Zosterops kikuyuensis
Principe White-eye Zosterops ficedulinus
Annobon White-eye Zosterops griseovirescens
Sao Tome White-eye Zosterops feae
Black-capped Speirops Zosterops lugubris
Principe Speirops Zosterops leucophaeus
Taita White-eye Zosterops silvanus
African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis
Angola White-eye Zosterops kasaicus
Orange River White-eye Zosterops pallidus
South Pare White-eye Zosterops winifredae
Cape White-eye Zosterops virens
Southern Yellow White-eye Zosterops anderssoni
Pemba White-eye Zosterops vaughani
Seychelles White-eye Zosterops modestus
Malagasy White-eye Zosterops maderaspatanus
Kirk’s White-eye Zosterops kirki
Mayotte White-eye Zosterops mayottensis
Lemon-bellied White-eye Zosterops chloris
Meratus White-eye Zosterops meratuensis
Wakatobi White-eye Zosterops flavissimus
Black-crowned White-eye Zosterops atrifrons
Sangihe White-eye Zosterops nehrkorni
Togian White-eye Zosterops somadikartai
Pale-bellied White-eye Zosterops consobrinorum
Black-ringed White-eye Zosterops anomalus
Black-fronted White-eye Zosterops minor
Tagula White-eye Zosterops meeki
Morotai White-eye Zosterops dehaani
Cream-throated White-eye Zosterops atriceps
Buru White-eye Zosterops buruensis
Seram White-eye Zosterops stalkeri
Javan White-eye Zosterops flavus
Ashy-bellied White-eye Zosterops citrinella
Canary White-eye Zosterops luteus
Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
Wangi-Wangi White-eye Zosterops paruhbesar
Hume’s White-eye Zosterops auriventer
Sangkar White-eye Zosterops melanurus
Everett’s White-eye Zosterops everetti
Vella Lavella White-eye Zosterops vellalavella
Santa Cruz White-eye Zosterops sanctaecrucis
Capped White-eye Zosterops fuscicapilla
Vanuatu White-eye Zosterops flavifrons
Bare-eyed White-eye Zosterops supercilliosus
Sanford’s White-eye Zosterops lacertosus
Vanikoro White-eye Zosterops gibbsi
Fiji White-eye Zosterops explorator
Bismarck White-eye Zosterops hypoxanthus
Biak White-eye Zosterops mysorensis
Bourgainville White-eye Zosterops hamlini
Guadalcanal White-eye Zosterops oblitus
Grey-throated White-eye Zosterops rendovae
Olive-colored White-eye Zosterops oleagineus
Dusky White-eye Zosterops finschii
Grey-brown White-eye Zosterops ponapensis
Kosrae White-eye Zosterops cinereus
Rota White-eye Zosterops rotensis
Yellow-throated White-eye Zosterops metcalfii
Malaita White-eye Zosterops stresemanni
puan White-eye Zosterops novaeguineae
Ambon White-eye Zosterops kuehni
Pearl-bellied White-eye Zosterops grayi
Gizo White-eye Zosterops luteirostris
Golden-bellied White-eye Zosterops uropygialis
Ranongga White-eye Zosterops splendidus
Solomons White-eye Zosterops kulambangrae
Dark-eyed White-eye Zosterops tetiparius
Christmas White-eye Zosterops natalis
Bridled White-eye Zosterops conspicillatus
Citrine White-eye Zosterops semperi
Plain White-eye Zosterops hypolais
Louisiade White-eye Zosterops griseotinctus
Kolombangara White-eye Zosterops murphyi
Large Lifou White-eye Zosterops inornatus
White-chested White-eye Zosterops albogularis
Samoan White-eye Zosterops samoensis
Robust White-eye Zosterops strenuus
Slender-billed White-eye Zosterops tenuirostris
Small Lifou White-eye Zosterops minutus
Green-backed White-eye Zosterops xanthochroa
Rennell White-eye Zosterops rennellianus
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Zosteropidae
Family AccountThe White-eyes are an old, traditional family. The 'traditional' white-eyes were mostly homogeneous, Old World tropical group of small arboreal birds. -
Zosteropidae
Family AccountZosteropidae is part of the sylvioid radiation of the oscine passerines. The members of Zosteropidae have at times been placed among various different families... -
Zosteropidae
Family AccountThe white-eyes are a family, Zosteropidae, of small passerine birds native to tropical, subtropical and temperate Sub-Saharan Africa, southern and eastern Asia...
Given the number of species in this family, Fatbirder does not provide quick links to all of them. However, the entries below do include links to representatives of every genera, all those illustrated and some of the most often encountered, iconic or sought-after species.
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Bismarck White-eye Zosterops hypoxanthus
Species AccountThe Bismarck white-eye or black-headed white-eye (Zosterops hypoxanthus) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Bismarck... -
Bismarck White-eye Zosterops hypoxanthus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Bonin White-eye Apalopteron familiare
Species AccountThe Bonin white-eye (Apalopteron familiare) is a small species of songbird endemic to the Bonin Islands (Ogasawara Islands) of Japan. -
Bonin White-eye Apalopteron familiare
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Calabarzon Babbler Sterrhoptilus affinis
Species AccountThe Calabarzon babbler (Sterrhoptilus affinis) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. -
Calabarzon Babbler Sterrhoptilus affinis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Chestnut-faced Babbler Zosterornis whiteheadi
Species AccountThe chestnut-faced babbler (Zosterornis whiteheadi) is a species of bird in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. -
Chestnut-faced Babbler Zosterornis whiteheadi
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Giant White-eye Megazosterops palauensis
Species AccountThe giant white-eye, or Palau greater white-eye (Megazosterops palauensis) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. -
Giant White-eye Megazosterops palauensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Golden White-eye Cleptornis marchei
Species AccountThe golden white-eye (Cleptornis marchei) is a species of bird in the white-eye family, Zosteropidae. It is the only species within the genus Cleptornis. -
Golden White-eye Cleptornis marchei
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus
Species AccountA small yellow-olive bird with a prominent white eyering. Occurs in forests, shrublands, parks, gardens, farmlands, and urban areas. -
Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus
Species AccountThe warbling white-eye (Zosterops japonicus) is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. The specific epithet is occasionally written japonica. -
Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Kirk's White-eye Zosterops kirki
Species AccountKirk's white-eye (Zosterops kirki) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Comoros Islands. -
Kirk's White-eye Zosterops kirki
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Lowland White-eye
Species AccountThe lowland white-eye (Zosterops meyeni) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is near endemic to the northern part of the Philippines. -
Lowland White-eye
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Mindanao White-eye Heleia goodfellowi
Species Accounthe Mindanao heleia (Heleia goodfellowi), also known as the black-masked white-eye and the Mindanao white-eye -
Mindanao White-eye Heleia goodfellowi
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Orange River White-eye Zosterops pallidus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Orange River White-eye Zosterops pallidus
Species AccountThe Orange River white-eye (Zosterops pallidus) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is found on the western side of South Africa and Namibia. It used to be considered conspecific with the Cape white-eye. -
Rennell White-eye Zosterops rennellianus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Rennell White-eye Zosterops rennellianus
Species AccountWikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Rennell_white-eye The Rennell white-eye (Zosterops rennellianus) or the bare-ringed white-eye, is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Rennell... -
Rufescent Darkeye Tephrozosterops stalkeri
Species AccountThe rufescent darkeye (Tephrozosterops stalkeri), also known as the bicoloured white-eye, is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. -
Rufescent Darkeye Tephrozosterops stalkeri
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
Species AccountThe silvereye or wax-eye (Zosterops lateralis), also known by its Māori name tauhou, is a very small omnivorous passerine bird of the south-west Pacific. -
Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Sri Lanka White-eye Zosterops ceylonensis
Species AccountThe Sri Lanka white-eye (Zosterops ceylonensis) is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family, which is endemic to Sri Lanka. -
Sri Lanka White-eye Zosterops ceylonensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Striated Yuhina Staphida castaniceps
Species AccountThe striated yuhina (Staphida castaniceps) is a bird species in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. It is found from the Himalayas to north-western Thailand. -
Striated Yuhina Staphida castaniceps
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Taiwan Yuhina Yuhina brunneiceps
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Taiwan Yuhina Yuhina brunneiceps
Species AccountThe Taiwan yuhina (Yuhina brunneiceps), formerly known as "Formosan yuhina", is a small songbird endemic to the island of Taiwan. -
Taiwan Yuhina Yuhina brunneiceps
Species AccountA medium-sized, 13 cm yuhina. Spiky, crested crown chestnut bordered on each side by a black line; lores, cheeks, ear coverts, and nape are white. -
Teardrop White-eye Rukia ruki
Species AccountThe teardrop white-eye (Rukia ruki), also known as the Faichuk white-eye, Truk white-eye, or great Truk white-eye, is a species of bird in the family... -
Teardrop White-eye Rukia ruki
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Visayan Pygmy Babbler Dasycrotapha pygmaea
Species AccountThe Visayan pygmy babbler (Dasycrotapha pygmaea) is a bird species endemic to the Philippines on the islands of Leyte and... -
Visayan Pygmy Babbler Dasycrotapha pygmaea
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
White-collared Yuhina Parayuhina diademata
Species AccountThe white-collared yuhina (Parayuhina diademata) is a bird species in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. It is found in China, Myanmar, and Vietnam. -
White-collared Yuhina Parayuhina diademata
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Yellow-throated White-eye Zosterops metcalfii
Species AccountThe yellow-throated white-eye (Zosterops metcalfii) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is found in the Solomon Islands archipelago.../ -
Yellow-throated White-eye Zosterops metcalfii
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map.