Japanese White-eye vs Green-backed White-eye
Zosterops japonicus compared with Zosterops xanthochroa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Japanese White-eye | Green-backed White-eye |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Zosterops japonicus | Zosterops xanthochroa |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Zosteropidae | Zosteropidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 11.5 cm (4.5 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 17.0 cm (6.7 in) | 12.1 cm (4.8 in) |
| Weight | 11.0 g (0.39 oz) | 10.25 g (0.36 oz) |
| Diet | Insects, nectar, and fruit. Active gleaner that flits through foliage and visits flowers. Important pollinator … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-6 | 2-4 |
| 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
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.
Green-backed White-eye
Geographic Range & Migration
Japanese White-eye
East Asia including Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Introduced to Hawaii and other Pacific islands.
Green-backed White-eye
Conservation Status
Japanese White-eye
Green-backed White-eye
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Green-backed White-eye
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.