Japanese White-Eye

Zosterops japonicus

Also known as: Warbling White-Eye, Mountain White-Eye

About This Species

A small, active songbird found in forest edges, gardens, and scrubby woodland across East Asia, easily located by its thin, high-pitched calls and constant movement through foliage in small flocks. The pale eye-ring that gives the species its name is visible at close range, and it often forages alongside other small birds in mixed flocks. It is present year-round in much of its range, though flocking behavior is most conspicuous outside the breeding season in cooler months.

Ethical Viewing Guidelines

This species tolerates moderate proximity in gardens and parks, but a distance of several metres and slow, quiet movement will keep flocks relaxed and easier to observe.
Wild bird protections differ across its range — it is a protected native species under wildlife laws through much of its natural East Asian distribution, but is treated as an introduced, unprotected species in places like Hawaii, so local status is worth checking.
Avoid feeding or handling birds and do not approach active nests.

LCAvesPasseriformesZosteropidae

Seasonal Activity

269,583 sightings · 2000–2026

Citizen science records via GBIF

All monthsThis month

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae

Photo

CC-BY-NC-4.0

Occurrence data from GBIF.