The Makira white-eye (Zosterops rendovae), also known as the grey-throated white-eye, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family, Zosteropidae. It is also known as Zosterops ugiensis because Z. rendovae has often been used for the Solomons white-eye (Z. kulambangrae).[2][3]

Makira white-eye
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae
Genus: Zosterops
Species:
Z. rendovae
Binomial name
Zosterops rendovae
Tristram, 1882
Synonyms

Zosterops ugiensis

It is endemic to the island of Makira in the Solomon Islands archipelago. The Guadalcanal white-eye (Z. oblitus) on Guadalcanal and Bougainville white-eye (Z. hamlini) on Bougainville were formerly considered subspecies, but are now considered distinct species.[2][4] It inhabits primary forest, mainly at 900–2000 m above sea-level but small numbers occur at lower levels.[5]

It is a small bird, 12–13 cm long. It is fairly dark green above with a brownish tail, a variable dark brown area between the eye and bill and a narrow white ring around the eye. The underparts are dark grey apart from the green chin, pale centre to the belly and yellow undertail-coverts. The bill is blackish with a pale base to the lower mandible.[5]

References

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  1. ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Zosterops rendovae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T103892086A113129959. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T103892086A113129959.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Internet Bird Collection. "Grey-throated White-eye (Zosterops rendovae)". Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  3. ^ Mees, G. F. (1955). "The name of the white-eye from Rendova Island (Solomon Islands)". Zoologische Mededelingen. 33 (28): 99–100.
  4. ^ "Species Updates – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  5. ^ a b Doughty, Chris; Nicolas Day; Andrew Plant (1999). Birds of the Solomons, Vanuatu & New Caledonia. London: Christopher Helm.