The yellow bird commonly seen in Singapore is known as the Oriental White-eye, which has the scientific name of Zosterops palpebrosus. This small songbird has bright yellow plumage on its throat, breast and undertail, with a distinctive white ring around its eyes. The Oriental White-eye is endemic to tropical southern Asia and is a familiar backyard bird across Singapore.
Quick Facts About the Oriental White-eye
Here are some key facts about the Oriental White-eye in Singapore:
- Common Name: Oriental White-eye, Yellow-vented Bulbul
- Scientific Name: Zosterops palpebrosus
- Identifying Features: Bright yellow throat/breast, white eye-ring, olive green upperparts, grey legs
- Size: 10-12 cm long, weighing 8-15 g
- Diet: Mainly insects and nectar
- Habitat: Gardens, parks, forests, mangroves
- Range: Southeast Asia, Indian subcontinent, southern China
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
Physical Description
The Oriental White-eye is a small, active songbird that grows to about 10-12 cm in length and weighs 8-15 g. It has distinctive bright yellow plumage on its throat, breast and undertail coverts. The upperparts are olive green and the wings and tail are greyish-brown. As the name suggests, there is a prominent white eye-ring around its eyes. The legs and feet are greyish.
Sexes are similar but juveniles are duller in coloration than adults and lack the eye-ring. There are several subspecies across its wide range which differ slightly in size and color intensity.
Call and Song
The Oriental White-eye has high-pitched, musical calls described as “seep seep” and louder scolding alarm calls when disturbed. Its song is a repetitive series of high-pitched, squeaky phrases faster than that of the similar Japanese White-eye.
Distribution and Habitat
The Oriental White-eye is native to tropical southern Asia from India to Southeast Asia. In Singapore, it is resident across the island and common in parks, gardens, forests and mangrove habitats. It has adapted well to urbanization and is a familiar backyard visitor if flowering plants are present.
Globally, its range extends across India, southern China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia. It has also been introduced to Hawaii and other Pacific islands. It is found in habitats ranging from dense forests to open woodlands in lowlands and foothills.
Behavior and Diet
The Oriental White-eye is active and agile, flitting through foliage while foraging. It occurs in pairs or small flocks of up to 12 birds, maintaining contact with soft calls. Its diet consists mainly of small insects and spiders, nectar from flowers, and some small fruit.
This sociable bird will join mixed-species foraging flocks of birds moving through woodlands. It is restless and rarely sits still for long while feeding.
Breeding
Breeding season is from February to September in Singapore. The male performs a courtship display, fluffing his body feathers and fanning his tail to show off yellow undertail coverts. The cup-shaped nest is neatly woven from plant fibers and placed in the fork of a tree or shrub 2-12 m above ground.
Typical clutch size is 2-4 eggs which are pale blue with reddish-brown spots. Both parents incubate the eggs for 10-14 days until hatching. Chicks fledge 10-16 days after hatching. Several broods may be raised in a single season.
Conservation Status
The Oriental White-eye has an extremely large global range estimated at 1-10 million square km. Its global population size has not been quantified but is believed to be large and stable as the species readily adapts to habitat modification. For these reasons, the Oriental White-eye is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Interesting Facts
- Oriental White-eyes are highly social and may roost in groups of 100 or more birds at night.
- This species helped pollinate and spread the African Tulip Tree, an invasive flower introduced to Singapore.
- The white eye-ring likely serves as a visual signal to keep flocks together when foraging in dense vegetation.
- Oriental White-eyes bathe frequently by fluttering in rain or wet foliage.
- They may mimic the calls of other bird species.
- There are at least 45 recognized subspecies of the Oriental White-eye across its wide range.
Summary
The Oriental White-eye is a familiar backyard bird in Singapore, easily identified by its bright yellow underparts and distinctive white eye-ring. Scientifically known as Zosterops palpebrosus, it is a small, active songbird that frequents gardens and parks. This sociable bird forages in flocks for insects and nectar. It readily adapts to urban habitats and remains common and widespread in Singapore and across Southeast Asia.
So the next time you see a flash of yellow flitting through the shrubbery, listen for the high-pitched calls of the Oriental White-eye. This species adds a lively splash of color and activity to any garden or green space it inhabits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Oriental White-eye belong to?
The Oriental White-eye belongs to the Zosteropidae family of small passerine birds, commonly called white-eyes or Yuhinas.
Where does the Oriental White-eye build its nest?
The Oriental White-eye builds a neat cup-shaped nest in the fork of trees or shrubs 2-12 meters above the ground. Nests are made from plant fibers woven together.
What threats face the Oriental White-eye?
No major threats to the widespread Oriental White-eye are known. Its ability to readily adapt to human habitats may actually have increased its global population. Predators include birds of prey, snakes, and cats.
What is the lifespan of an Oriental White-eye?
The typical lifespan of the Oriental White-eye in the wild is unknown but estimated to be 2-3 years based on the lifespans of similarly sized songbirds.
How many eggs does the female Oriental White-eye lay?
A typical clutch size for the Oriental White-eye is 2-4 pale blue eggs with reddish-brown spotting.
What is the conservation status of the Oriental White-eye?
The Oriental White-eye is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its large and stable global population. It is one of the most common backyard birds across its native range in southern Asia.
Scientific Classification
Here is the taxonomic classification of the Oriental White-eye:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Zosteropidae
- Genus: Zosterops
- Species: Zosterops palpebrosus
Population and Distribution Statistics
The Oriental White-eye has an extremely large range and global population size. However, no quantitative data exists on its total numbers. Here are some key statistics about its distribution:
- Extent of Occurrence: between 1,000,000-10,000,000 sq km
- Range Map: IUCN Red List
- Range Countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
- Population Trend: Stable
- Native Habitat: Tropical forests, woodlands, mangroves, gardens
- Introduced Range: Hawaii, French Polynesia, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia
Comparison With Related Species
The Oriental White-eye belongs to the genus Zosterops which includes many species of white-eyes found across the Old World tropics. Some related species include:
| Species | Range | Differences |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese White-eye | East Asia | Very similar but has faster, more rattling song |
| Warbling White-eye | Philippines | Larger with olive-yellow underparts |
| Everett’s White-eye | Indonesia | Browner upperparts, yellower underparts |
| Swinhoe’s White-eye | Taiwan | More yellow above and below |
In Singapore, the Oriental White-eye is unlikely to be confused with any other species. The most similar native birds in size and shape are flowerpeckers but they lack the distinctive eye-ring and yellow underparts.
Importance to Ecosystems and Humans
As a very abundant species that feeds on insects and nectar, the Oriental White-eye plays an important role in tropical ecosystems. This includes:
- Pest control – Consumes many small insects like aphids, caterpillars, and ants
- Pollination – Transfers pollen between flowers as it feeds on nectar
- Seed dispersal – Spreads seeds of native plants and also non-native invasive species
- Prey species – Provides food for predators like birds of prey, snakes and cats
For humans, the Oriental White-eye is a pleasant and familiar backyard bird that adds aesthetic value and interest to gardens and parks. Its high-pitched calls and active foraging provide a sense of life and vibrancy. Many bird enthusiasts enjoy photographing this species due to its bright yellow plumage and attractive eye-ring.
Threats and Conservation
The Oriental White-eye remains widespread and common across its large native range and faces no major threats currently. If anything, its adaptability to human habitats may have increased its global numbers. Any potential threats could include:
- Habitat loss in some areas due to urbanization and deforestation
- Competition for nest sites from other cavity-nesting bird species
- Predation from expanded populations of cats, corvids and snakes near human settlements
- Parasitic diseases such as avian malaria in Hawaii’s introduced population
However, the species remains resilient and is not currently considered threatened or in need of special conservation measures. Protecting forests and mangroves and providing gardens with suitable trees, flowering plants and bird feeders can support populations close to human settlements.
Research and Survey Priorities
While the Oriental White-eye is well-studied across parts of its range, some research and survey priorities could include:
- Better population monitoring across the entire global range, including quantitative density estimates
- Genetic studies to understand relationships between the many subspecies
- Investigating competition with invasive bird species in Hawaii
- Parasite and disease surveys of wild populations
- Nesting success rates in urban versus rural habitats
- Foraging ecology and diet differences between habitats
- Climate change impacts on tropical ecosystems used by the species
Filling these knowledge gaps can help inform specific conservation actions tailored to protecting the Oriental White-eye wherever it faces local population pressures or declines.
Recommended Actions to Help the Species
Here are some recommended actions that can help support Oriental White-eye populations:
- Plant native trees, shrubs, and flowers in gardens to provide food sources
- Avoid use of pesticides which can reduce insect prey populations
- Keep pet cats indoors to protect birds from predation
- Install bird feeders and bird baths in backyards
- Preserve stretches of forest and connect fragmented areas
- Join community bird monitoring programs
- Support research efforts to study urban white-eye populations
Simple actions by governments, conservation groups, and citizens can help provide habitat and resources needed to sustain Oriental White-eye populations, especially in intensively managed urban and suburban environments.
Conclusion
The Oriental White-eye is a remarkably adaptable songbird species that thrives across a variety of habitats in Singapore and tropical southern Asia. Its bright plumage and energetic disposition make it a favorite backyard bird where it provides ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control while fascinating birdwatchers and nature lovers. Maintaining protected forest areas and wildlife-friendly gardens and parks will ensure the “yellow bird” remains a vibrant part of Singapore’s avifauna for generations to come.
