Where does the Cape White-eye live?
Zosterops virens
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Open the appThe Cape White-eye lives in specific habitats and regions. Knowing where, and when, to look improves your chances of a successful sighting.
Biomes
Forests, woodlands, fynbos, karoo scrub, thickets, riparian vegetation, suburban gardens, parks, orchards.
Geographic range
Endemic to Southern Africa, found throughout South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, and parts of southern Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.
Preferred environments
Highly adaptable, preferring areas with dense foliage for foraging and cover. Common in well-wooded suburban gardens, parks, and agricultural areas with trees and shrubs. In Gauteng, they are ubiquitous in urban and suburban green spaces, nature reserves, and any area with sufficient tree and shrub cover.
Elevation range
Sea level up to 2,800 meters.
Where to look
Suburban Gardens and Parks
In Gauteng, Cape White-eyes are extremely common in any garden with trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. They are regular visitors to bird feeders offering fruit or sugar water. Look in areas with dense foliage.
Nature Reserves and Woodlands
Found in virtually all nature reserves and wooded areas across Gauteng, such as Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Faerie Glen Nature Reserve, and the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden. They prefer the edges of woodlands and riparian zones.
Agricultural Areas
Orchards and farmlands with scattered trees and hedges provide excellent habitat. They are often seen in fruit trees.
Field tips
- Listen for their calls and songs. Their constant chattering and melodious song often give away their presence before you see them. They are quite vocal.
- Look in flowering plants and fruit trees. They are attracted to nectar and fruit, so check flowering shrubs (e.g., aloes, proteas) and fruit-bearing trees. They are also insectivorous, so watch for them gleaning insects from leaves.
- Observe active foraging. They are constantly on the move, flitting between branches and leaves. Look for small, quick movements in the foliage.
- Check bird baths and feeders. Cape White-eyes are frequent visitors to bird baths for drinking and bathing, and to feeders offering fruit or sugar water, especially in suburban areas.
- Scan the canopy and undergrowth. They utilize all levels of vegetation, from the undergrowth to the tree canopy, so scan thoroughly.
Migration
Generally resident throughout its range, but some local or altitudinal movements may occur, particularly in response to food availability. In Gauteng, they are year-round residents.
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