White-eyes (Zosteropidae)

Seychelles Grey White-eye (Zosterops modestus) - HBW 13, p. 475

French: Zostérops des Seychelles German: Mahebrillenvogel Spanish: Anteojitos de Seychelles
Other common names: Seychelles (Brown) White-eye

Taxonomy: Zosterops modesta E. Newton, 1867, Mahé, Seychelles.
May be related to Z. olivaceus and Z. chloronothos, to which it bears closest resemblance and with which it shares similar wing-flicking action and staccato calls; recent DNA studies, however, suggest Z. maderaspatanus as closest relative. Birds on Mahé on average larger (longer wing and tarsus) than those on Conception, with a 28% genetic difference recorded. Monotypic.

Distribution: Inner Is (Mahé and adjacent Conception), in NE Seychelles. Introduced on Frégate I, North I and Cousine I.