Naming
The Mbulu white-eye, the south Pare white-eye and the broad-ringed white-eye were formerly considered as subspecies of Heuglin's white-eye. They were promoted to species rank based on a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014. To reflect this change, the English name was changed from "montane white-eye" to "Heuglin's white-eye".There are three subspecies:
⤷ "Z. p. kulalensis" Williams, JG, 1948 – Mount Kulal
⤷ "Z. p. poliogastrus" Heuglin, 1861 – southeast Sudan, Eritrea, north, central, and east Ethiopia
⤷ "Z. p. kaffensis" Neumann, 1902 – west and southwest Ethiopia
Distribution
During the dry season, the Heuglin's white-eye are commonly found in large flocks of up to fifty birds. However, in the wet season, flocks of this size are only seen in the early mornings or late afternoons. The habitat of the Heuglin's white-eye varies by subspecies.Food
The Heuglin's white-eye diet mainly consists of berries and small insects. However, in the months of September and November they can be found foraging on Leonotis flowers. During the dry season, this bird is mainly frugivorous, while insectivorous in the wet season.Migration
Both the Heuglin's white-eye and are nonmigrants, while the Heuglin's white-eye descends from higher to lower altitudes as the wet season approaches.References:
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