Silvereye

Description

The small bird is distinguished by the white ring around its peppercorn eye. It is common in southern Australia and New Zealand and moves in small flocks.

Appearance

The head and wings are olive green. The body and the top of the back are grey, and the beak is pointed and slightly bent downwards. The body is 10–12 centimetres long and weighs about 10 grams.

Similar bird

There are subspecies of grey-backed spectacled birds whose body colour may vary, but only this bird in Australia and New Zealand has white "glasses".

Sounds and songs

A chirping stanza in high pitch.

Diet

It is omnivorous and includes fruit, berries and insects in its diet. It likes to go to bird tables in winter and feed on suet, breadcrumbs and seeds there.

Nest

It builds a bowl-like nest of grass and moss and places it well hidden in the foliage of the trees.

Geographic range

Southern and eastern Australia and all of New Zealand.

Summer Resident Winter