Mauritius olive white-eye

The Mauritius olive white-eye (Zosterops chloronothos) is a rare bird endemic to the island of Mauritius. Belonging to the white-eye family, it was first described by the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1817. These small birds, approximately 10 cm in length, feature olive-green upperparts, lighter underparts, a yellow belly and vent, and a distinctive white ring around their eyes. Males and females exhibit similar plumage.

The Mauritius olive white-eye inhabits the evergreen thickets and forests of the Black River Gorges National Park and the Macchabée-Bel Ombre Biosphere Reserve. Their diet consists primarily of nectar and insects.

The breeding season extends from September to March. During this period, the female lays a clutch of two pale eggs in a concealed nest among the foliage. Both parents participate in incubating the eggs. Typically, only one chick is successfully raised to the fledgling stage, which occurs around 14 days after hatching.

Unfortunately, the species faces numerous threats. Introduced predators such as rats and crab-eating macaques frequently destroy their nests. The population has plummeted from 350 pairs in 1975 to just 120 pairs in 2002. Additionally, the bird's reliance on specific native flowers for nectar has been problematic due to the introduction of non-native plant species.

To aid in the conservation of this rare bird, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation monitors every nest they locate closely.