Golden White-eye vs Japanese White-eye
Cleptornis marchei compared with Zosterops japonicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden White-eye | Japanese White-eye |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cleptornis marchei | Zosterops japonicus |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Zosteropidae | Zosteropidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 11.5 cm (4.5 in) |
| Wingspan | 14.5 cm (5.7 in) | 17.0 cm (6.7 in) |
| Weight | 18.150000000000002 g (0.64 oz) | 11.0 g (0.39 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Insects, nectar, and fruit. Active gleaner that flits through foliage and visits flowers. Important pollinator … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Japanese White-eye
Broadleaf evergreen forests, gardens, parks, and suburban areas. Highly adaptable and common in East Asian gardens.
Song & Call Comparison
Golden White-eye
Japanese White-eye
Sweet, high-pitched 'tsee-tsee-tsee' whistle and soft melodic warbling. Flocks produce a continuous tinkling chorus. Alarm is a sharper 'tset'. Song is gentle and rhythmic.
Geographic Range & Migration
Golden White-eye
Japanese White-eye
East Asia including Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Introduced to Hawaii and other Pacific islands.
Conservation Status
Golden White-eye
Japanese White-eye
How to Tell Them Apart
Golden White-eye
Japanese White-eye
Olive-green upperparts with a bright white eye-ring. Yellow throat and undertail coverts. Greyish-white belly.
Thin, pointed, slightly decurved dark bill
About These Birds
Japanese White-eye
The Japanese white-eye is a familiar garden bird across East Asia, beloved in Japan where it is called mejiro. These sociable birds form flocks outside the breeding season and are important pollinators of plum and cherry blossoms. Unfortunately, introduced populations in Hawaii have become invasive, competing with native honeycreepers.