Birds of the World

Bridled White-eye Zosterops conspicillatus Scientific name definitions

Robert J. Craig and Peter Pyle
Versión: 3.0 — Publicada abril 11, 2025

Photos from this Account

Bridled White-eye in Saipan.
Similar species: Golden White-eye (Cleptornis marchei).
Possible confusion species: Rota White-eye (Zosterops rotensis).

Note, brighter coloration above, lighter bill, more yellowish lores, and uniform yellow on the throat and underparts.

Hatchlings.

Natal Down is undescribed; chicks appear to hatch naked.

Juvenile Plumage (subspecies saypani).

Juveniles are grayer above and paler below than in later plumages and can show dusky streaking to the crown and underparts, as here. Note also the paler lores, weaker and more filamentous juvenile feathering to the undperparts, and the narrow and pointed juvenile rectrices.

Possible Formative Plumage (subspecies saypani).

Some (but not all) birds in Formative Plumage can be identified by retained juvenile feathering. here note the paler brown secondaries in the wing (s5-s6) which may represent juvenile feathers following an incomplete Preformative Molt (as these are the last feathers often replaced in complete molts). The rather dull body feathering might also suggest Formative Plumage.

Possible Formative Plumage (subspecies saypani).

Here it appears that inner primaries have been replaced but outer primaries are worn and brown. Note also the brown and pointed outer rectrices suggesting juvenile feathers. These traits are consistent with Formative Plumage following an incomplete Preformative Molt but may also represent an older bird in molt as well.

Apparently undergoing Definitive Prebasic Molt (subspecies saypani). 

Here, distal molt of primaries appears to have reached p5 or p6 and the longest tertial is molting reflecting within and between tract sequences typical of passerines. Central rectrices would be expected to also be molting at this time. The dusky and relatively fresh condition of unmolted remiges, without retained juvenile feathers, indicates this to be a Definitive rather than the Second Prebasic Molt.

Adult (subspecies saypani).

The irises of adult passerines are often brighter and more reddish brown than in juveniles and this may be the case with this species as well. Note also the black culmen.

Possible first-year bird (subspecies saypani).

The irises of juvenile passerines are often duller and grayer brown than in adults and this may be the case with this species as well. The grayish iris color on this bird along with the apparent lack of juvenile flight feathers suggest that this may be a first-year bird following a complete Preformative Molt.

Habitat on Saipan.
Bridled White-eye foraging in Saipan.
Nest with two eggs.

Macaulay Library Photos for Bridled White-eye

Top-rated photos submitted to the Macaulay Library via eBird. Note: Our content editors have not confirmed the species identification for these photos.

Cita Recomendada

Craig, R. J. and P. Pyle (2025). Bridled White-eye (Zosterops conspicillatus), version 3.0. In Birds of the World (B. K. Keeney and S. M. Billerman, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.brweye1.03
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