Silvereye

Scientific Name: Zosterops lateralis

Description: Silvereyes are named for the prominent ring of silvery-white feathers around the eye. The head and rump are pale olive-coloured, and the throat is greenish-yellow. Different populations from different areas show plumage variations, in particular in the colour of the flanks, which is confusing when they replace each other in areas as they migrate across Australia.

They love to eat the fruit of the Kangaroo Apple, despite the fruit being poisonous to humans, during most of the time it is growing. They also eat insects, nectar, and fruit. During winter, the Tasmanian subspecies, with brownish flanks, flies in across Bass Strait while the birds that have bred locally move further north. They feed on insects, fruit, and nectar.

Type: Bird
Where to find: Coastal heath, shrublands, forests, farms, and urban areas.
Size: 13cm