Japanese white-eye, Mountain white-eye
The Japanese white-eye is a small songbird native to much of east Asia. As one of the native species of the Japanese islands, it has been depicted in Japanese art on numerous occasions, and historically was kept as a cage bird. This bird is olive green on its back, from anterior to posterior, and is pale green on its underside. Its feet, legs, and bill range from black to brown. It has a green forehead and a yellow throat. The white-eye has rounded wings and a long, slender bill - both of which indicate this bird to be very acrobatic. Its wings are dark brown but outlined in green. Like other white-eyes, this bird has the distinctive white eyering that gives it its name.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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NectarivoreIn zoology, a nectarivore is an animal that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of the sugar-...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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Dominance hierarchyA dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social gr...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts with
Japanese white-eyes are found in Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste. These birds live in forests, open woodland, thickets, and shrubland. Thye can also be found in groves, gardens, plantations, and city parks.
Japanese white-eyes are diurnal birds that are rarely found on the ground. They are very sociable and outside of the breeding season may form flocks with other species; in these flocks, the birds form groups in which they forage during flight. There is a social hierarchy in a flock that is established through physical displays. Some of these displays include wing flicks exposing the underwing, wing flutters, and vibrations, as well as open beak displays and beak snaps (rapid shutting of the beak to make a snapping noise). Japanese white-eyes feed on insects by searching the leaves of flowers and scouring tree bark for larvae.
Japanese white-eyes are omnivorous. Their diet includes fruit from several species of flowering plants, various types of insects, and nectar at all levels of foliage.
Japanese white-eyes are monogamous and for pairs. They breed from February to December and may raise up to 3 clutches per season. During the mating season, males establish territories by singing loudly. They will fend off intruders of the same species, yet will allow other species of birds to nest inside of their territory. Pairs choose a location for the nest between 1 and 30 meters above ground level. Construction of the nest lasts 7-10 days on average. Nests are cup-shaped and are made of spider webs, moss, lichens, and mammal hair. Female lays 2-5 white, smooth, and elliptical eggs, and both parents incubate them for 11-12 days. The chicks hatch altricial (helpless). They fledge 10-12 days after hatching but usually can't fly for 1-6 days after leaving the nest. The chicks remain with parents for another 15-20 days and become reproductively mature at 1 year of age.
Japanese white-eyes are not considered endangered at present. However, these small birds are often trapped for the illegal pet trade.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Japanese white-eye total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
Japanese white-eyes eat a large variety of insects and fruit and thus help to control local insect populations and disperse seeds throughout the forests in their ecosystem.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...