Zosterops virens
Cape White-eyes are familiar birds in many South African suburbs, where their confiding attitude and characteristic song make them a well-loved garden bird. They inhabit a wide variety of naturally woody habitats, from forests to mountain scrub, as well as plantations and orchards. They feed primarily on insects, but will include fruits, flowers and nectar in their diet.
Cape White-eyes are social little birds, weighing only about 11g and growing to 12cm in length and usually seen in pairs or small flocks. They breed throughout the year, though mostly in summer, with both pair mates constructing the small cup-shaped nest from fine materials and spider web, well hidden deep in the dense foliage of a tree or shrub. Clutches contain 2-4 eggs and are incubated by both parents for almost 2 weeks, with the chicks taking to the wing for the first time when they’re about 14 days old.
The Cape White-eye occurs widely over Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa (with the exception of the more arid parts of the Northern Cape, Free State and North West provinces), with a few scattered records from Botswana and Mozambique. The IUCN lists the Cape White-eye as being of least concern.
de Wets Wild 
Cute bird and great photos of it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Hien!
LikeLike
Lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aren’t they just!?
LikeLike
They blend so well into the foliage that sometimes it’s only the white eye that gives them away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And usually their sweet little tweets before that. They’re a real favourite of ours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Someone went crazy with a small paint brush! Such a neat looking bird!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great description, thanks Teresa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dis ‘n pragtige ou voeltjie! Kan nie se dat ek hulle al hier by ons gesien het nie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dis n jammerte, Aletta, want die kleine goedjies is pragtig om te sien!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another beautiful bird I never have seen!😊 You sure have a great bird life in South Africa all year long!😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
We can’t argue with that, John! You must make a plan to come and visit!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello. This cute little bird is one of my favourite garden birds and when I was a child they were plentiful in gardens. They have all but disappeared from the gardens here now though, much to the despair of rose and vegetable growers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s such a pity, Kim – these endearing little birds are great at keeping insect pests at bay.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Een van my gunsteling tuinbesoekertjies. Ek hardloop altyd buitentoe as ek hulle hoor en kyk dan of ek hulle kan sien wegkruip. Hulle kamoefleer so goed. Dankie vir die mooi artikel, Dries.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dankie vir die saamkuier, Dina! Ons is net so lief vir die ou glasogies, en mens kan partykeer so naby aan hulle kom!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are present all year round here. During summer they are often the first to start the dawn chorus. They flit through the garden a little later during the winter though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet those tiny bodies get very cold through the night in winter.
LikeLike
Pretty little birds! And the white around the eyes is unique and endearing.
LikeLike
Little garden jewels!
LikeLike
So cute.
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely 100% agreed!
LikeLike
We call them Silvereyes here. They are such sweet little birds and regularly visit our garden. I’ve even done a mosaic of one. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re really such lovable little birds!
LikeLiked by 1 person
such a pretty little one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Undeniably! Thanks, Lois!
LikeLike