| Silvereye | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Zosteropidae |
| Genus: | Zosterops |
| Species: | Z. lateralis |
| Binomial name | |
| Zosterops lateralis | |
The Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), also known as Wax-eye, is a small passerine bird, 12 centimeters in length, that lives throughout Australia, SW Pacific, and New Zealand.
Description[]
The Silvereye is mainly green in colour, with a grey back, a light grey breast and a ring of white feathers around the eyes, which gives it its name of Wax-eye or Silvereye.
Behaviour[]
Feeding[]
The Silvereye feeds on insects which it finds among the leaves and bark of shrubs and trees. It also eats seeds, nectar and fruit.
Breeding and Nesting[]
The Silvereye breeds from September to December, making a nest out of spider webs, fine grass, rootlets as well as other items, which is suspended from a tree or shrub. It lays 2 to 4 eggs, which are pale blue in colour. Two of these are raised. After the babies have fledged, they join other birds in a migration.
Migration[]
The Tasmanian race (Race lateralis) migrates in autumn across the Bass Strait, into Victoria, South Australia (around Adelaide), New South Wales, and even as far up as SE QLD. They mainly travel at night, as during the day they are feeding.
References[]
- The Simpson & Day Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Sixth Edition.
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