Orange River White-eye (Zosterops pallidus)

About the Orange River White-eye

The Orange River white-eye (Zosterops pallidus) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae, which is native to Namibia and South Africa. It was formerly deemed conspecific with the Cape white-eye (Zosterops virens), but the two species occur sympatrically in central South Africa, and they are genetically distinct. Four subspecies have been proposed based on plumage colour and size differences: Zosterops pallidus pallidus — Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng, Free State Zosterops pallidus sundevalli Hartlaub — tributaries of upper Orange and lower to mid Vaal River Zosterops pallidus deserticola Reichenow — lower Orange River and its tributaries Zosterops pallidus haigamchabensis — northern Namibia to Northern Cape, South Africa.