Everett's white-eye

Everett's white-eye
Illustration in Meyer & Wiglesworth (1898)
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Zosteropidae
Genus:	Zosterops
Species:	Z. everetti
Binomial name
Zosterops everetti Tweeddale, 1878

Everett's white-eye (Zosterops everetti) is a bird species in the disputed family Zosteropidae, which might belong with the Old World babblers (Timaliidae). The name commemorates British colonial administrator and zoological collector Alfred Hart Everett. It is only found on the Talaud Islands, Sulu Archipelago and the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests.

EBird describes the bird as " Typical white-eye; greenish above and grayish below with broad white spectacles around the eyes. Darker gray belly and more extensive yellow on the belly than in the marginally smaller Oriental White-eye. Inhabits foothill and montane forest edges, gardens, and secondary growth, occasionally around human habitation. Gregarious, often foraging in large flocks, both single-species and mixed. Moves through the upper levels of forest, though can descend into middle and lower levels in edge. Song consists of repetitive twittering; also gives whistles and buzzy notes while in flight and when foraging."^[2]

Six subspecies are recognized:

• Z. e. everetti – Found on Cebu
• Z. e. basilanicus – Found on Dinagat, Siargao, Camiguin Sur, Mindanao, and Basilan
• Z. e. boholensis – Found on Samar, Calicoan, Biliran, Leyte, and Bohol
• Z. e. siquijorensis – Found on Siquijor
• Z. e. mandibularis – Found on the Sulu Archipelago
• Z. e. babelo – Found on the Talaud Islands^[3]

Likely a generalist that feeds on fruit, berries, small insects and nectar. Forages in the understory and often joins mixed-species flocks with other small birds. Breeding season believed to be April to August. Nest is a typical white-eye nest, a few meters above on a small tree. Clutch size 3-4. ^[3]

This bird's habitat is primary and secondary forest and scrubland up to 1,000 meters above sea level.

IUCN has assessed this bird as least-concern species as it has a wide range and is fairly adapatable to degraded habitats. However, the population is still believed to be declining due to deforestation in the Philippines continues throughout the country due to slash and burn farming, mining, illegal logging and habitat conversion.^[4]