Oriental White-eye

Tentang

The Oriental White-eye, commonly known as 'Burung Pleci' in Indonesia, is a small passerine bird characterized by its distinctive white eye-ring. It is a highly active and vocal species, often found in small flocks foraging in trees and shrubs. Known for its melodious song, it is a popular cage bird in some regions, though this practice raises conservation concerns.

Ukuran dan masa hidup

Panjang

8-11 cm

Bentang sayap

13-16 cm

Berat

6-12 g

Masa hidup

3-5 years in the wild, up to 10 years in captivity

Makanan

Omnivore (primarily insectivorous and nectivorous)

Ciri fisik

Bulu

Upperparts are bright olive-green, underparts are yellowish-white to greyish-white, often with a bright yellow throat and vent. The flanks can be greyish. The most prominent feature is the conspicuous white eye-ring, which is complete and encircles the eye.

Bentuk paruh

Small, slender, slightly decurved, and pointed beak, typically dark grey or blackish.

Warna mata

Dark brown.

Warna kaki

Dark grey to blackish.

Ciri pembeda

The prominent white eye-ring is the definitive field mark. Its small size, active foraging behavior, and olive-green upperparts also aid identification.

Penampilan muda

Juveniles resemble adults but may have a slightly duller plumage, and their white eye-ring might be less distinct or slightly incomplete initially.

Perubahan musiman

No significant seasonal plumage changes. Plumage remains consistent throughout the year.

Dimorfisme seksual

Males and females are monomorphic in plumage, appearing identical. Sexing typically requires behavioral observation during breeding or genetic testing.

Cara identifikasi

1. 1

   White Eye-ring

   The most crucial field mark. Look for a complete, distinct ring of white feathers around the eye. This is present in all ages and sexes.

2. 2

   Plumage Coloration

   Observe the bright olive-green upperparts and the yellowish-white to greyish-white underparts, often with a bright yellow throat and vent. The contrast between the green back and lighter belly is key.

3. 3

   Size and Shape

   Note its very small size (sparrow-sized or smaller), slender build, and short tail. It has a delicate, pointed beak.

4. 4

   Behavior

   Watch for its active, acrobatic foraging style, constantly moving through foliage. It often hangs upside down or probes flowers. They are usually seen in flocks outside the breeding season.

5. 5

   Vocalizations

   Listen for its characteristic sweet, warbling song and high-pitched 'tsee-tsee' contact calls. These are often the first indication of its presence.

Habitat dan persebaran

Bioma

Forests, woodlands, scrublands, mangroves, gardens, plantations, and urban parks.

Persebaran geografis

Widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and parts of East Asia. Its range extends from India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka eastward through Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, Lesser Sundas), and the Philippines, reaching southern China and Taiwan.

Rentang ketinggian

Sea level up to 2,000 meters, occasionally higher in some parts of its range.

Lingkungan yang disukai

Prefers open woodlands, forest edges, secondary growth, orchards, and cultivated areas with scattered trees and shrubs. It is highly adaptable and thrives in human-modified landscapes.

Perilaku

Waktu aktivitas

Diurnal, most active during the morning and late afternoon.

Kebiasaan makan

Forages actively in the canopy and undergrowth, gleaning insects and spiders from leaves and branches. It also feeds extensively on nectar from various flowers, fruits, and berries. Often seen probing flowers with its brush-tipped tongue. They move quickly and acrobatically through foliage.

Perilaku sosial

Highly social, usually found in small to large flocks (5-30 individuals or more) outside the breeding season. These flocks often join mixed-species foraging parties. During the breeding season, they become more territorial and are seen in pairs.

Pola terbang

Flight is typically short, undulating, and direct between trees or shrubs. They are agile fliers within dense vegetation.

Pola migrasi

Generally resident throughout its range, though some localized altitudinal movements or short-distance dispersal may occur, particularly in mountainous regions or in response to food availability.

Teritorialitas

Pairs establish and defend small breeding territories during the nesting season. Outside of breeding, they are less territorial and forage communally.

Reproduksi

Musim kawin

Varies geographically, typically during the warmer months or rainy season. In India, March-September; in Southeast Asia, often April-August.

Kebiasaan bersarang

Nests are small, neat, cup-shaped structures made of fine grass, moss, spider silk, and plant fibers, suspended from a fork in a small branch or twig, usually 1-3 meters above the ground in a bush or small tree. Both parents participate in nest building.

Jumlah telur

2-4 eggs.

Deskripsi telur

Typically 2-4 eggs, pale blue or bluish-white, unspotted. Approximately 15 x 11 mm.

Masa inkubasi

10-12 days, primarily by the female, though the male may assist.

Masa terbang

10-12 days after hatching. Young are altricial and cared for by both parents.

Perawatan orang tua

Both parents share duties of incubation (to a lesser extent for the male), brooding, and feeding the nestlings and fledglings.

Di mana ditemukan

Tips lapangan

1. Look for movement in foliage. These birds are constantly on the move, flitting between branches. Scan the canopy and mid-story for small, active birds.
2. Listen for calls and songs. Their distinctive 'tsee-tsee' calls and melodious warbling song are often easier to detect than seeing the bird itself, especially in dense vegetation.
3. Visit flowering trees and shrubs. They are attracted to nectar, so check flowering plants, especially those with small, tubular flowers.
4. Observe mixed-species flocks. Outside the breeding season, they often join other small passerines in foraging flocks. If you find one flock, look for white-eyes among them.
5. Use binoculars. Their small size and active nature make binoculars essential for observing their key features, especially the eye-ring.

Spesies serupa

Fakta singkat

Distinguishing Mark:

Prominent white eye-ring

Diet:

Insects, nectar, fruits

Sociality:

Highly social, forms flocks

Vocalization:

Melodious warbling song, 'tsee-tsee' calls

Habitat:

Forests, gardens, scrub, urban areas

Fakta menarik

• The genus name 'Zosterops' comes from Ancient Greek, meaning 'girdle-eye', referring to the distinctive white eye-ring.
• In Indonesia, 'Burung Pleci' is a highly popular cage bird, valued for its singing ability, leading to significant trapping pressure in some areas.
• They play an important ecological role as pollinators due to their nectar-feeding habits and as insect controllers.
• Despite their small size, they are very agile and can hang upside down to access nectar or insects.
• The taxonomy of white-eyes (Zosteropidae) is complex and has undergone significant revisions, with many former subspecies now recognized as distinct species.

Klasifikasi ilmiah

Kerajaan

Animalia

Filum

Chordata

Kelas

Aves

Ordo

Passeriformes

Famili

Zosteropidae

Genus

Zosterops

Spesies

Zosterops palpebrosus

Jelajahi Oriental White-eye