White-eyes

The white-eyes, belonging to the family Zosteropidae, are small passerine birds found across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Australasia, with many species endemic to specific islands or archipelagos. They are named for the distinctive ring of small white feathers around their eyes and have greenish olive upper parts and lighter underparts, sometimes with white or yellow patches. These birds, which can grow up to 15 cm in length, are characterized by rounded wings, strong legs, slender bills, and brush-tipped tongues, adaptations that support their insectivorous, nectar-feeding, and fruit-eating habits. They are highly sociable, often forming large flocks except during breeding season, when they build tree nests and lay pale blue eggs. The silvereye, one species of white-eye, has naturally expanded its range to New Zealand and been introduced to other areas, sometimes causing problems in vineyards. Although the white-eyes were originally considered a separate family due to their uniform morphology and ecology, molecular studies have suggested they may be closely related to, or even part of, the Old World babblers (Timaliidae), possibly warranting a reclassification into a subfamily. This group of 149 species across 13 genera includes various species of babblers and white-eyes, which despite their similar behavior, show a complex and still unresolved genetic relationship within the bird family tree.