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White-eyes (Zosteropidae)

Malagasy White-eye (Zosterops maderaspatanus) - HBW 13, p. 474

French: Zostérops malgache German: Madagaskarbrillenvogel Spanish: Anteojitos Malgache
Other common names: Madagascar White-eye; Kirk’s White-eye (kirki); Hova (Grey-backed) White-eye (grey-backed morphs)

Taxonomy: Motacillla maderaspatana Linnaeus, 1766, Madagascar.
Distinctive race kirki sometimes treated as a separate species, or as a race of Z. senegalensis. Race menaiensis poorly defined and of uncertain validity; owing to its geographical isolation and different calls (which considered by some authors to be reasons for treating this as a separate species) it is probably best retained, pending further studies. Proposed form hovarum (Madagascar), formerly treated as a separate species, is not a valid taxon; original description was based on a single specimen of an aberrant form (with grey upperparts), two similar e.. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Motacillla maderaspatana Linnaeus, 1766, Madagascar.
Distinctive race kirki sometimes treated as a separate species, or as a race of Z. senegalensis. Race menaiensis poorly defined and of uncertain validity; owing to its geographical isolation and different calls (which considered by some authors to be reasons for treating this as a separate species) it is probably best retained, pending further studies. Proposed form hovarum (Madagascar), formerly treated as a separate species, is not a valid taxon; original description was based on a single specimen of an aberrant form (with grey upperparts), two similar examples of which have since been found on Cosmolédo Atoll (SW Seychelles). Additional described taxa from Madagascar are ampotakae (a small form from Ampotaka, in dry SW plain) and analogus (a slightly larger montane form described from Manjakatompo, in Ankaratta Mts); both are treated as synonyms of nominate. Seven subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • aldabrensis Ridgway, 1894 - Aldabra Atoll (possibly also still on Assomption), in SW Seychelles.
  • menaiensis Benson, 1969 - Cosmolédo Atoll (Menai) and Astove, in SW Seychelles.
  • kirki Shelley, 1880 - Grand Comoro (Njazidja), in NW Comoro Is.

     See all 7 subspecies
  • aldabrensis Ridgway, 1894 - Aldabra Atoll (possibly also still on Assomption), in SW Seychelles.
  • menaiensis Benson, 1969 - Cosmolédo Atoll (Menai) and Astove, in SW Seychelles.
  • kirki Shelley, 1880 - Grand Comoro (Njazidja), in NW Comoro Is.
  • comorensis Shelley, 1900 - Mohéli (Mwali), in SC Comoros.
  • anjuanensis E. Newton, 1877 - Anjouan (Ndzuani), in EC Comoros.
  • maderaspatanus (Linnaeus, 1766) - Madagascar, and Glorioso Is (off NW coast).
  • voeltzkowi Reichenow, 1905 - Europa I, in S Mozambique Channel.
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