Christmas Island’s most common bird, the tiny white-eye is olive-green and grey with a distinctive white ring around its eye.

Measuring just 12 cm long, white-eyes feed on fruits, nectar and small insects. They nest during the wet season, laying two or three eggs in a small nest in the bushes.

This subspecies of white-eye was found only on Christmas Island until the late 19th century, when it was introduced to the Cocos Keeling Islands. Related species occur across Asia, Australia and the Pacific.

Where to see it

Everywhere! White-eyes are found in all the island’s forests as well as local gardens.