What Do White-Eyes Birds Eat? A Look at Their Diet
What Do White-Eyes Birds Eat? A Look at Their Diet
White-eyes birds (Zosterops spp.), known for their distinctive white eye-rings and energetic behavior, are small songbirds found across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. These social birds have a diverse diet that allows them to thrive in a variety of habitats, from forests to gardens. In this blog, we’ll explore what White-Eyes birds eat, how they forage, and how you can attract them to your backyard.
1. Omnivorous Diet
White-Eyes birds are omnivores, meaning they eat a mix of fruits, nectar, and insects. Their diet varies depending on the season and the availability of food.
2. Favorite Fruits and Berries
White-Eyes birds love eating soft, juicy fruits, which provide them with energy and essential nutrients. Their favorites include:
- Bananas
- Papayas
- Apples
- Oranges
- Berries (mulberries, raspberries, and elderberries)
These birds use their sharp, pointed beaks to peck at the flesh of ripe fruit, extracting the soft pulp and juices.
3. Nectar Feeding Like Hummingbirds
White-Eyes birds are excellent nectar feeders and often visit flowering plants to sip sweet nectar. Their brush-tipped tongues help them extract nectar efficiently. Some favorite nectar sources include:
- Hibiscus
- Bottlebrush
- Eucalyptus flowers
- Cherry blossoms
- Grevillea
This diet gives them a strong energy boost, much like hummingbirds.
4. They Also Eat Insects
While they love fruits and nectar, White-Eyes birds also eat small insects, especially during the breeding season when they need extra protein to feed their chicks. Their insect diet includes:
- Aphids
- Caterpillars
- Ants
- Beetles
- Spiders
This insect diet helps control garden pests, making White-Eyes birds beneficial for natural pest management.
5. Tree Sap as a Sweet Treat
In addition to nectar, White-Eyes birds sometimes feed on tree sap. They peck at small openings in tree bark or take advantage of sap left by woodpeckers or other animals.
6. How They Find Food
White-Eyes birds are highly social foragers, meaning they search for food in small flocks. They move quickly from tree to tree, scanning for fruits, flowers, and insects. Their acrobatic flying skills allow them to hover near flowers, much like hummingbirds.
7. Backyard Feeding: How to Attract White-Eyes Birds
If you want to attract White-Eyes birds to your garden, try offering:
- Fruit platters with bananas, oranges, or papayas.
- Nectar feeders similar to those used for hummingbirds.
- Sugar water (a homemade nectar mix: 1 part sugar, 4 parts water).
- Native flowering plants that produce nectar-rich blooms.
These birds are more likely to visit a yard that provides a mix of food sources, including trees, shrubs, and feeders.
8. Seasonal Diet Changes
- Spring & Summer: More insects for protein.
- Fall & Winter: More fruits and nectar as insect populations decline.
- Year-round: Adapt their diet based on available food sources.
Their ability to switch between food types helps them survive in different environments and climates.
9. They Help Pollinate Flowers
Since White-Eyes birds feed on nectar, they act as accidental pollinators, transferring pollen between flowers as they move from bloom to bloom. This makes them important for plant reproduction.
10. White-Eyes Birds Have a Fast Metabolism
Because they are small and active, White-Eyes birds need to eat frequently to maintain their energy. They spend most of their waking hours foraging, making quick visits to different food sources throughout the day.
Conclusion
White-Eyes birds have a highly adaptable diet, feeding on fruits, nectar, insects, and even tree sap. Their role as pollinators and insect controllers makes them valuable to ecosystems. If you want to attract these lively birds to your garden, providing a mix of fresh fruit, nectar, and native plants is the best way to do so. Watching these small, energetic birds flit between flowers and feeders is a delightful experience for any bird lover!