Slender-billed White-eye

Slender-billed White-eye - drawing by John Gould

The Slender-billed White-eye ( Zosterops tenuirostris ) is a species of bird in the family of white-eyes. It is endemic to Norfolk Island.

Description

The Slender-billed White-eye reaches a size of 13 to 14 inches and a wing length of 6.3 to 6.9 centimeters. The long thin beak is slightly curved downward. The top is gray-brown. Top of the head, ear-coverts, upper tail-coverts, rump, and the Außensäume the wings and tail feathers are olive green, the color of the reins and the sides of the neck is yellowish. To the red-brown iris runs a white eye-ring. Throat, goiter, cheeks and chin are yellow. Chest and the rest of the underside is dark yellow. The flanks are olive brown dull. The under tail-coverts are pale yellow. The under wing-coverts are white with a faint trace of yellow. Beak and feet are gray.

Habitat and behavior

The Slender-billed White-eye occurs in the same habitat as the extremely rare White-breasted White-eye ( Zosterops albogularis ) and the gray jacket white-eye ( Zosterops lateralis). It inhabits rainforests and tall secondary forests, where he goes foraging in small groups. It uses its long down curved beak to search the beef columns for insects. Both native and exotic fruits such as the papaya enrich the food supply.

Status

BirdLife International estimates the stock of 2,000 copies and classified the species as endangered ( endangered ). The stock decline began in the 1960s by clearing the forests and by the predation by rats and cats. Most individuals live in Norfolk Iceland National Park, which was built in 1986. In the context of a current conservation project of the Slender-billed White-eye is to be introduced on the Phillip Island.