Golden White-eye
Cleptornis marchei
The Golden White-eye (Cleptornis marchei) is a legendary white-eyes, yuhinas, and alli found only in the Northern Mariana Islands, weighing about 20 g. The golden white-eye is a species of bird in the white-eye family, Zosteropidae.
About the Golden White-eye
The golden white-eye is a species of bird in the white-eye family, Zosteropidae. It is the only species within the genus Cleptornis. The golden white-eye was once considered to be a honeyeater in the family Meliphagidae and although it is now known to be a white-eye, its position within that family is still uncertain. The species is restricted to the islands of Saipan and Aguijan in the Northern Mariana Islands, where it is sympatric and competes with the related bridled white-eye. The golden white-eye has golden plumage and a pale eye-ring. It feeds on insects, fruit, and nectar and forages in pairs or small family groups. The bird is monogamous and lays two eggs in a small cup nest.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The golden white-eye differs from the other white-eyes in having large eyes and an outermost primary wing feather that is not reduced (as it is in the other species). It is a large white-eye, 14 cm (5.5 in) long and weighing around 20 g (0.7 oz). The species has bright, unmistakable plumage, with: an orange-yellow head coupled with a pale eye-ring; a yellow-green back, wings, and tail; and golden orange undersides. The bill and legs are also orange.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Golden White-eye can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Golden White-eye?
- The golden white-eye differs from the other white-eyes in having large eyes and an outermost primary wing feather that is not reduced (as it is in the other species). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Golden White-eye?
- The Golden White-eye is a small sized bird weighing about 20 g.
- Where can you see a Golden White-eye?
- The Golden White-eye is endemic to the Northern Mariana Islands, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Golden White-eye?
- The Golden White-eye is most easily confused with the Forest White-eye, the Thick-billed Heleia and the Mindanao Pygmy Babbler.
- Is the Golden White-eye endangered?
- The Golden White-eye is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Golden White-eye for real
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