About Zosterops abyssinicus Guerin-Meneville, 1843
The Abyssinian white-eye, also called the white-breasted white-eye (scientific name Zosterops abyssinicus Guerin-Meneville, 1843), is a small passerine bird. It is classified in the genus Zosterops, part of the white-eye family Zosteropidae. This species is native to northeast Africa and the Southwestern Arabian foothills savanna. It measures 10 to 12 cm in length. Its upperparts are green, and northern races have darker, greyer upperparts than other populations. It has a narrow white ring around the eye, and a thin black line between its bill and eye. The color of its underparts ranges from pale yellow to greyish-white, varying between different races. It produces a variety of twittering and buzzing calls. In Africa, its range extends from northeast Sudan southwards through Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somaliland, and Kenya, to northeast Tanzania; it is also found on Socotra Island. In Arabia, it occurs in southwest Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and southern Oman. It inhabits open woodland, scrub, wadis, and gardens. In Africa, it can be found at elevations up to 1,800 metres above sea level, while in Arabia it occurs up to 3,100 metres. It typically forages among tree branches, but will sometimes descend to ground level. It feeds mainly on insects, and will also consume nectar from flowers.
