Golden White-eye vs Japanese White-eye

Cleptornis marchei compared with Zosterops japonicus

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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
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Golden White-eye
Japanese White-eye 11.5 cm
Wingspan
Golden White-eye 14.5 cm
Japanese White-eye 17.0 cm
Weight
Golden White-eye 18.150000000000002 g
Japanese White-eye 11.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Golden White-eye only

None

Japanese White-eye only

None

Japanese White-eye

Broadleaf evergreen forests, gardens, parks, and suburban areas. Highly adaptable and common in East Asian gardens.

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Song & Call Comparison

Golden White-eye

Japanese White-eye

Song

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.

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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.

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Conservation Status

Endangered

Golden White-eye

Least Concern

Japanese White-eye

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How to Tell Them Apart

Golden White-eye

Japanese White-eye

Plumage

Olive-green upperparts with a bright white eye-ring. Yellow throat and undertail coverts. Greyish-white belly.

Bill

Thin, pointed, slightly decurved dark bill

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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.

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Related Comparisons

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