Cape White-eye or Orange River White-eye..

Cape White-eye, Zosterops pallidus or Orange River White-eye (Z. pallidus)

Now this little bird is one of the reasons I struggle and sometimes avoid, trying to identify the smaller bird species. I placed a picture on FB to ask for help and one expert tells me the Photos are of the Orange River sub specie.. but believe it or not there are two other sub specie, the SW and the E green.

They all interbreed as well I’m told, so how does one ID these little birds other than to call them LBJ (Little Brown Jobs)? I don’t know, I sometimes avoid posting some captures as I might just name it incorrectly, and someone will be on my back..

These little birds when not breeding congregate in big flocks and flit around together.. they nest in little cup like structures, laying two to three pale blue eggs that only take 11 to 12 days to hatch and then within the next 13 to 14 days they fly away. Now that is some growing speed.

White-eyes feeds mainly on insects, but also soft fleshy flowers, nectar, fruit and small grains, and it readily comes to bird feeders. Here’s a few photos..