Zosterops
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[Photo] Japanese White-eye, Jan. 2006, Yokohama JAPAN ; Japanese description:メジロ 2006年1月 神奈川??????浜市 (投稿者自身による撮影). Date Jan. 22 2006. Author Maga-chan http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Maga-chan

Zosterops is a genus of birds containing the typical white-eyes. They are traditionally placed in the white-eye family Zosteropidae which may actually be a part of the Timaliidae however (Jønsson & Fjelds?? 2006).

This genus has the highest number of species among the white-eyes by far. They occur in the Afrotropic ecoregion, the Indomalaya zone, and the Australasia ecozone. Typical white-eyes can reach a length between 8 and 15 cm. Their most characteric feature is the conspicuous white feather ring around the eyes, thoush some species lack it.

Systematics
A review of new DNA sequence data (Jønsson & Fjelds?? 2006) suggests that the genus might not be monophyletic. Few species have been researched however, with the highest density of sampled taxa being from Micronesia. There, it appears, a more distinct eastern lineage and a western one closer to East Asian species occur. The relationships of the former to the Rukia white-eyes need investigation. Also, the Cape White-eye seems to stand apart from the rest but this is by no means certain.

African Yellow White-eye, Zosterops senegalensis
- Kirk's White-eye, Zosterops (senegalensis) kirki
Pemba White-eye, Zosterops vaughani
Chestnut-sided White-eye, Zosterops mayottensis
- Seychelles (Chestnut-sided) White-eye, Zosterops (mayottensis) semiflava - extinct (late 19th century)
Broad-ringed White-eye, Zosterops poliogastrus - formerly poliogaster
White-breasted White-eye, Zosterops abyssinicus
Cape White-eye, Zosterops pallidus
- Orange River White-eye, Zosterops (pallidus) pallidus
Madagascar White-eye, Zosterops maderaspatanus
Comoro White-eye, Zosterops mouroniensis
Sao Tome White-eye, Zosterops ficedulinus
Annobon White-eye, Zosterops griseovirescens
Mascarene White-eye, Zosterops borbonicus
Reunion White-eye, Zosterops olivaceus
Mauritius Olive White-eye, Zosterops chloronothos
Seychelles White-eye, Zosterops modestus
Sri Lanka White-eye, Zosterops ceylonensis
Chestnut-flanked White-eye, Zosterops erythropleurus
Oriental White-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus
Japanese White-eye, Zosterops japonicus
Lowland White-eye, Zosterops meyeni
Enggano White-eye, Zosterops salvadorii
Bridled White-eye, Zosterops conspicillatus - possibly poly- or paraphyletic
- Guam Bridled White-eye, Zosterops (conspicillatus) conspicillatus - extinct (1983)
Rota White-eye, Zosterops rotensis - recently split from Z. conspicillatus
Plain White-eye, Zosterops hypolais
Caroline Islands White-eye, Zosterops semperi
Black-capped White-eye, Zosterops atricapilla - formerly atricapillus
Everett's White-eye, Zosterops everetti
Yellowish White-eye, Zosterops nigrorum
Mountain White-eye, Zosterops montanus
Christmas Island White-eye, Zosterops natalis
Javan White-eye, Zosterops flavus
Yellow-bellied White-eye, Zosterops chloris
Ashy-bellied White-eye, Zosterops citrinella - formerly citrinellus
Great Kai White-eye, Zosterops grayi
Little Kai White-eye, Zosterops uropygialis
Sulawesi White-eye, Zosterops consobrinorum
Black-ringed White-eye, Zosterops anomalous
Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Zosterops wallacei
Black-crowned White-eye, Zosterops atrifrons
Sangihe White-eye, Zosterops nehrkorni
Seram White-eye, Zosterops stalkeri
Cream-throated White-eye, Zosterops atriceps
Black-fronted White-eye, Zosterops minor
White-throated White-eye, Zosterops meeki
Black-headed White-eye, Zosterops hypoxanthus
Biak White-eye, Zosterops mysorensis
Capped White-eye, Zosterops fuscicapilla - formerly fuscicapillus
Buru White-eye, Zosterops buruensis
Ambon White-eye, Zosterops kuehni
New Guinea White-eye, Zosterops novaeguineae
Australian Yellow White-eye, Zosterops luteus
Louisiade White-eye, Zosterops griseotinctus
Rennell White-eye, Zosterops rennellianus
Banded White-eye, Zosterops vellalavella
Ganongga White-eye, Zosterops splendidus
Splendid White-eye, Zosterops luteirostris
Solomon Islands White-eye, Zosterops kulambangrae
Kulambangra White-eye, Zosterops murphyi
Yellow-throated White-eye, Zosterops metcalfii
Grey-throated White-eye, Zosterops rendovae
Malaita White-eye, Zosterops stresemanni
Santa Cruz White-eye, Zosterops santaecrucis
Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis
- Lord Howe Silvereye, Zosterops (lateralis) tephropleurus - formerly tephropleurus
Lord Howe White-eye, Zosterops strenuus - formerly strenua; extinct (c.1918)
Slender-billed White-eye, Zosterops tenuirostris
White-chested White-eye, Zosterops albogularis
Large Lifou White-eye, Zosterops inornatus
Layard's White-eye, Zosterops explorator
Yellow-fronted White-eye, Zosterops flavifrons
Green-backed White-eye, Zosterops xanthochroa - formerly xanthochrous
Small Lifou White-eye, Zosterops minutus
Samoan White-eye, Zosterops samoensis
Dusky White-eye,, Zosterops finschii
Grey White-eye, Zosterops cinereus
Yap Olive White-eye, Zosterops oleagineus - sometimes placed in Rukia (as R. oleaginea)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zosterops

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