Species information
Scientific name: Zosterops japonicus loochooensis
Japanese name: リュウキュウメジロ
Chinese name: 日菲繡眼（琉球亞種）、琉球綠繡眼
English name: Warbling white-eye (Ryukyu subspecies)
Origin: Amami Oshima, Kikaijima, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabujima, Yoronjima, Okinawajima, Agunijima, Yagajijima, Iheyajima, Iejima, Izenajima, Kerama Islands, Kumejima, Miyakojima, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Yonaguni, Hateruma
Ecology and description
This is one of the subspecies of the Warbling white-eye (Zosterops japonicus). In the nominate subspecies found on Honshu and elsewhere in Japan, the chest and flanks are tinged with reddish-brown, while in the Ryukyu subspecies they are not tinged with red. In winter, wintering birds of the nominate subspecies can also be seen on Okinawa. The white-eye commonly seen on Taiwan is Swinhoe’s white-eye (Zosterops simplex).
Reference: Wikipedia (Japanese), White-eye identification manual (Wildlife Division, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment), Japanese Wild Bird Identification Guide
Field photographs taken during our tours, with observation dates
