Warbling White-eye

SCI Name:  Zosterops japonicus
Protonym:  Zosterops japonicus FaunaJap.Aves[Siebold] p.57 pl.22 sP
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Zosteropidae / Zosterops
Taxonomy Code:  warwhe1
Type Locality:  Japan; restricted to Decima, Nagasaki by Mees, 1957, Zool. Verh. Rijksmus. Nat. Hist. Leiden, no. 35, p. 99.
Author:  Temminck & Schlegel
Publish Year:  1845
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

ZOSTEROPS
(Zosteropidae; Ϯ Madagascar White-eye Z. maderaspatanus) Gr. ζωστηρ zōstēr, ζωστηρος zōstēros  belt, girdle; ωψ ōps, ωπος ōpos  eye; "Genus. ZOSTEROPS*.   Rostrum mediocre, gracile, arcuatum; mandibula superiore vix emarginata; naribus basalibus, linearibus, longitudinalibus, membrana supra tectis, rictu inermi.  Alæ mediocres; remigibus prima et quinta fere æqualibus, secunda tertia et quarta paulo longioribus, fere æqualibus, primariis secundarias paululum longitudine superantibus.  Pedes subfortes, subelongati; acrotarsiis scutellatis.  Cauda æqualis.  Caput gracile, concinnum; plumulis periopthalmicis subsericeis albis cingulum subprominentem efformantibus.   ...   The true Sylvia, if we select the slenderly-formed Warblers of Europe, such as the Motacillæ hippolais, trochilus, &c. Linn., as the types of the genus, are set apart from almost all the other species by the formation of their wing, in which the first quill-feather is extremely short, in some instances, indeed, almost spurious.  Of the foreign groups of the family we have already observed that the New Holland genera Malurus and Acanthiza come nearest the European type by the same construction of the wing.  The present group essentially differs from it.  The first quill-feather is long, almost equal to the second, which together with the third and fourth,—all of them nearly of a length,—are the longest.  The nares also are linear and longitudinal, thus differing from the oval form of the European type.  In other respects the characters of these two groups have a general accordance.  Besides the disposition of the wing-feathers, we may also mention the scutellation of the tarsi, the even tail, and the unarmed rictus, as additional marks of distinction from the before-mentioned New Holland Sylviadæ.  From the genus Hylophilus of M. Temminck, which has lately been separated with much judgement from the Sylvia of Dr. Latham, and which also has the first quill-feather elongated and nearly even with the rest, our present group may readily be distinguished by a much more gracile and arcuated bill, in which the nares also are of a different construction.  The Motacilla Maderaspatana of Linnæus, (Sylvia Madagascariensis, Lath.), belongs to our group, which seems to have a very wide dispersion.    1. DORSALIS  ...  Sylvia annulosa, var. β.  Swains. Zool. Illust. pl. 16.  ...  Orbitæ plumulis albis vestitæ.   ...   *Zωστηρ cingulum, and ωψ oculus." (Vigors & Horsfield 1826); "Zosterops Vigors and Horsfield, 1826, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 15, p. 234. Type, by subsequent designation (Lesson, 1828 Man. Orn., 1, p. 286), Motacilla maderaspatana Linnaeus." (Mayr in Peters, 1967, XII, p. 290). The majority of white-eyes have a ring of white feathers around each eye.
Var. Fosterops, Fosterzops, Zostenops.
Synon. Cyclopterops, Luteozosterops, Malacirops, Nesozosterops, Oreosterops, Parinia, Sanfordia, Speirops, Tephras, Woodfordia, Zosteropisylvia.

zosterops
Gr. ζωστηρ zōstēr, ζωςτηρος zōstēros  belt, girdle; ωψ ōps,  ωπος ōpos  eye.

japanensis / japanicus / japensis / japonensis / japonica / japonicum / japonicus
Japan (Mod. English names (early examples including Giapan) were derived from a Portuguese corruption of Malay Jepang and Chinese Zeppen, themselves local renderings of Nippon). The French equivalent is Japon.
● ex “Japonese Eagle” of Latham 1781 (subsp. Falco peregrinus).
● ex “Grue du Japon” of Brisson 1760 (Grus).
● Erroneous TL Japan (= New Guinea); ex “Psittacus erythrochlorus macrourus” of Aldrovandus 12599, and “Psittaca japonica” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Charmosyna papou).

SUBSPECIES

Warbling White-eye (japonicus)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus japonicus
japanensis / japanicus / japensis / japonensis / japonica / japonicum / japonicus
Japan (Mod. English names (early examples including Giapan) were derived from a Portuguese corruption of Malay Jepang and Chinese Zeppen, themselves local renderings of Nippon). The French equivalent is Japon.
● ex “Japonese Eagle” of Latham 1781 (subsp. Falco peregrinus).
● ex “Grue du Japon” of Brisson 1760 (Grus).
● Erroneous TL Japan (= New Guinea); ex “Psittacus erythrochlorus macrourus” of Aldrovandus 12599, and “Psittaca japonica” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Charmosyna papou).

Warbling White-eye (stejnegeri)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus stejnegeri
stejnegeri
Dr Leonhard Hess Stejneger (1851–1943) Norwegian zoologist resident in USA 1881-1943, Curator Smithsonian Institution 1884-1943 (‡Akialoa, subsp. Anthus gustavi, subsp. Columba janthina, subsp. Dendrocopos leucotos, syn. Hemignathus kauaiensis, subsp. Hypsipetes amaurotis, Melanitta, syn. Parus major nigriloris, subsp. Saxicola torquatus, syn. Spindalis zena, subsp. Spinus xanthogastrus, subsp. Zosterops japonicus).

Warbling White-eye (insularis)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus insularis
insularis
L. insularis  of an island  < insula, insulae  island.
● Ceylon (= Sri Lanka) (syn. Accipiter badius, subsp. Chloropsis aurifrons, subsp. Dicrurus caerulescens, subsp. Prinia inornata).
● New Caledonia (syn. Accipiter fasciatus vigilax).
● Phu-Quoc I., Cochin China (=Vietnam) (subsp. Aethopyga siparaja).
● Andaman Is., Bay of Bengal (subsp. Amaurornis phoenicurus).
● Bahrain, Arabian Gulf (subsp. Ammomanes deserti)
● Erroneous TL. Madagascar (= Zanzibar) (subsp. Andropadus importunus).
● Santa Cruz I., Channel Is., California, USA (subsp. Aphelocoma californica, subsp. Eremophila alpestris).
● Rennell I., Solomon Is. (Aplonis).
● Jobi I. (= Japen = Yapen), New Guinea (Arses, subsp. Pachycephalopsis hattamensis).
● Sardinia (Bubo).
● Fernando Póo (= Bioko), Gulf of Guinea (syn. Campethera tullbergi, syn. Cinnyris chloropygius).
● Isla Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico (syn. Cathartes aura, subsp. Cyclarhis gujanensis).
● Aldabra, Indian Ocean (subsp. Centropus toulou).
● Sardinia (syn. Coccothraustes coccothraustes).
● Grand Cayman, Caribbean Sea (subsp. Columbina passerina).
● New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea (Corvus).
● Formosa/Taiwan (subsp. Dendrocopos leucotos, Myophonus, syn. Garrulus bispecularis).
● Borneo (syn. Dicrurus paradiseus).
● Nicobar Is., Bay of Bengal (syn. Ducula aenea nicobarica).
● Corsica (syn. Emberiza calandra, syn. Saxicola rubicola).
● Socotra (subsp. Emberiza tahapisi, Passer).
● Weda Is., Halmahera, Indonesia (syn. Eos squamata).
● Tres Marías Is., Nayarit, Mexico (Forpus, subsp. Myadestes occidentalis, subsp. Nyctidromus albicollis, subsp. Pachyramphus aglaiae, subsp. Setophaga pitiayumi, syn. Zenaida asiatica).
● Lord Howe I., Tasman Sea (syn. Fregetta grallaria, ‡Gerygone).
● Rottnest I., Western Australia (syn. Gavicalis virescens).
● Meco I., Quintana Roo, Mexico (subsp. Habia fuscicauda).
● Ship I., off Gulfport, Mississippi, USA (syn. Hirundo rustica erythrogaster).
● Tobago (Hylophilus, subsp. Platyrinchus mystaceus, subsp. Psarocolius decumanus).
● Isla Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico (Junco).
● Isla Margarita, Venezuela (syn. Leptotila verreauxi,  subsp. Quiscalus lugubris).
● New Providence, Bahamas (sym. Leuconotopicus villosus maynardi).
● King I., Bass Strait, Australia (syn. Melithreptus brevirostris).
● Kangean Is., Java Sea, Indonesia (subsp. Oriolus chinensis).
● Fergusson I., D'Entrecasteaux Is., Papua New Guinea (Otidiphaps).
● Mahé I., Seychelles (Otus).
● Kodiak I., Alaska, USA (subsp. Passerella unalaschcensis).
● Honshu, Japan (subsp. Periparus ater).
● Stewart I., New Zealand (syn. Poodytes punctatus).
● Henderson I., Pitcairn Group, Pacific Ocean (Ptilinopus).
● Naochow I., Kwangtung, China (syn. Pycnonotus aurigaster resurrectus).
● Banggai I., North Borneo (syn. Pycnonotus plumosus hachisukae).
● Madagascar (Sarothrura, subsp. Thalassornis leuconotus).
● Forsyth I., Bass Strait, Australia (syn. Sericornis frontalis).
● Grand Bahama I., Bahamas (Sitta).
● Trinidad (syn. Sporophila intermedia).
● Nias I., Sumatra (subsp. Terpsiphone affinis).
● Terangan I., Aru Is., Indonesia (syn. Todiramphus macleayii).
● Isla Socorro, Colima, Mexico (syn. Troglodytes sissonii).
● Erroneous TL. São Vicente, Cape Verde Is. (= St. Vincent, West Indies) (subsp. Tyto glaucops).
● Vancouver I., British Columbia, Canada (syn. Vireo huttoni).
● Stephens I., Cook Strait, New Zealand (‡syn. Xenicus lyalli).
● Curaçao, Dutch Antilles (subsp. Zonotrichia capensis).
● Tanegashima, south of Kyushu, Japan (subsp. Zosterops japonicus).

Warbling White-eye (loochooensis)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus loochooensis
loochooensis
Loo Choo Is. / Ryukyu Is., Japan.

Warbling White-eye (alani)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus alani
alani
Alan Owston (1853-1915) English merchant, yachtsman, naturalist, collector resident in Japan 1871-1915 (subsp. Zosterops japonicus).

Warbling White-eye (daitoensis)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus daitoensis
daitoensis
Minami-Daitôjima, Borodino Is. (= Daitō Is.), Japan.

Warbling White-eye (obstinatus)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus obstinatus
obstinata / obstinatus
L. obstinatus  obstinate  < obstinare  to persist in; “they are all bad skins” (Hartert 1900) (subsp. Zosterops montanus).

Warbling White-eye (montanus)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus montanus
montanum / montanus
L. montanus  found on mountains, mountain-, mountaineer  < mons, montis  mountain.
● “We saw abundance of these birds in the mountainous Countries of Stiria and Carinthia, as we travelled from Vienna to Venice” (Ray 1678); "98. FRINGILLA.  ...  montana.  28. F. remigibus rectricibusque fuscis, corpore griseo nigroque, alarum fascia alba gemina.  Passer montanus. Aldr. orn. t. 15. c. 15. Olin. av. 46. Raj, av. 87.  Habitat in Europa.  Simillima Fr. domesticæ sed minor & fascia duplex in alarum tegetibus alba s. tectrices alarum primi secundique ordinis albi, at in F. domestica tantum secundi." (Linnaeus 1758) (Passer).
● Montana, USA (subsp. Junco oreganus).
● Montana Sierra, Valle, Venezuela (syn. Megascops choliba crucigerus).
● ex “Braunes Feldhuhn” of Frisch 1733-1763, “Perdix montana” of Brisson 1760, and “Perdrix de montagne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 136, and de Buffon 1770-1783 (syn. Perdix perdix).
● ex “Merula montana” of Brisson 1760, and “Merle de montagne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 182 (syn. Turdus torquatus).

Warbling White-eye (difficilis)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus difficilis
difficilis
L. difficilis  difficult, troublesome  < dis  asunder, apart; facilis  easy  < facere  to make. Coined of species of uncertain systematic position and difficult to allocate, usually as a result of poorly preserved, mutilated, or limited type material.
● "Similar to Cisticola sylvia Reichenow, but striped above and slightly smaller.  In general coloration it is not very unlike Cisticola emini Reichenow, though striped and more yellowish above and more strongly fulvous below." (Mearns 1912) (syn. Cisticola natalensis strangei). 
● “Although the specimens from the west coast are not sufficiently perfect to allow a full criticism, I am inclined to think that they are really distinct, and that they will not constitute almost the single exception to the fact that no flycatcher is common to both east and west coasts. The colors are lighter, and duller  ... The forehead has a peculiar hoary appearance  ... In view of all these circumstances, therefore, it may be well to give it provisionally a new name, and none would be more appropriate than that of Empidonax difficilis” (Baird 1858) (Empidonax).
● “The present species was referred by Mr Salvin to G. dentirostris, but the smaller size and differently shaped bill induce me to believe that the two birds are distinct” (Sharpe 1888) (Geospiza).
● "Specimens from the middle area of the Orinoco, the Mérida region, and the state of Carabobo, Venezuela, are referred here with some hesitation. They are not quite typical" (Zimmer 1937) (subsp. Myiodynastes maculatus).
● "Como actualmente não temos presentes os exemplares typicos, não podemos dar descripção mais detalhada; limitamo nos, pois a estes nossos apontamentos e ás informações que amavalmente nos forneceram os srs. Hellmayr e Conde von Berlepsch, ficando reservada para publicação posterior a caracterização mais completa desta especie nova" (Ihering & Ihering 1906) (Phylloscartes).

Warbling White-eye (parkesi)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus parkesi
parkesi
Dr Kenneth Carroll Parkes (1922-2007) US ornithologist, taxonomist, collector in Mexico, Argentina and Philippines, Curator of Carnegie Mus., Pittsburgh 1962 (subsp. Buarremon brunneinuchus, syn. Chrysococcyx flavigularis, subsp. Ixos philippinus, subsp. Mulleripicus funebris, subsp. Saltator aurantiirostris, subsp. Setophaga petechia, subsp. Sporophila maximiliani, subsp. Vireo huttoni, subsp. Zosterops montanus).

Warbling White-eye (whiteheadi)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus whiteheadi
whiteheadi
● John Whitehead (1860-1899) British explorer, collector in Borneo 1885-1888, the Philippines 1893-1896, and Hainan 1899 (Aerodramus, Calyptomena, syn. Dicaeum haematostictum, subsp. Dicrurus leucophaeus (ex Buchanga palawanensis Whitehead, 1890), Harpactes, syn. Leptocoma sperata henkei, subsp. Lophura nycthemera, syn. Nisaetus nipalensis, syn. Pachycephala grisola plateni, subsp. Prioniturus discurus, Sitta, syn. Strix seloputo wiepkeni, syn. Trichastoma bicolor, subsp. Turdus poliocephalus, subsp. Turnix sylvaticus, Urocissa, Urosphena, subsp. Zosterops montanus, Zosterornis).
● Maj. Charles Hugh Tempest Whitehead (1880-1915) British Army in India, collector (syn. Zoothera mollissima).

Warbling White-eye (diuatae)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus diuatae
diuatae
Diuata Mts., Agusan Province, Mindanao, Philippines.

Warbling White-eye (vulcani)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus vulcani
vulcani
Mod. L. vulcani  of the volcano, of Vulcan  < Roman myth. Volcanus or Vulcanus  Vulcan, god of fire.
• Bolivia (subsp. Chalcostigma stanleyi).
• Gedeh Volcano, western Java, Indonesia (subsp. Ficedula hyperythra).
• Volcán de Irazú, Costa Rica (Junco).
• Volcán de Santa María, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala (subsp. Vireo huttoni).
• Vulcan I., New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago (subsp. Tanysiptera galatea).
• Mount Apo, Mindanao, Philippines (subsp. Zosterops montanus).

Warbling White-eye (pectoralis)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus pectoralis
pectorale / pectoralis
L. pectoralis  of the breast, pectoral  < pectus, pectoris  breast.
● ex “Engoulevent à collier” of Levaillant 1806 (Caprimulgus).
● ex “Janfréderic” of Levaillant 1801-1804, pl. 111 (syn. Cossypha caffra).
● ex “Austral Quail” of Latham 1823 (Coturnix).
● ex “Gold-breasted Manakin” of Latham 1801 (Euphonia).
● ex “Petit Merle brun à gorge rousse de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 644, fig. 2, and “Yellow-breasted Thrush” of Latham 1785 (syn. Gymnopithys rufigula).
● ex “Red-breasted Snipe” of Montagu 1813 (syn. Limnodromus griseus).
● ex “Black-breasted Flycatcher” of Latham 1787 (Pachycephala).
● ex “Mbatuitui pecho listado” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 389 (syn. Pluvialis dominica).
● ex “Tachurí pecho amarillo” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 165 (Polystictus).
● ex “Black-breasted Grosbeak” of Latham 1783 (syn. Sporophila americana).
● ex “Cordon Noir” of Levaillant 1805, pl. 150 (artefact).
● ex “Hausse-Col Noir” of Levaillant 1802, pl. 110 (artefact).

Warbling White-eye (halconensis)
SCI Name: Zosterops japonicus halconensis
halconensis
Mt. Halcon, Baco, Mindoro, Philippines.