Silvereye feeding on kiwifruit
The silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) - also known as the wax-eye, or sometimes white eye - is a small olive green forest bird with white rings around its eyes.
These friendly birds were self introduced in the 1800s and now have a wide distribution throughout New Zealand. They have made the forest their home and are now among the most common bird in suburbia too. The subtle calling of the flock as they move through the forest is pleasant music in an iPod-free forest.
The Māori name for the silvereye or wax-eye is tauhou, which means "stranger" or, more literally, "new arrival".
Cats, rats and stoats are as great an enemy to silvereye as they are to other native birds.
Silvereye are not threatened, so DOC doesn't have specific work programme for them.
Find out what you can do for silvereye.
Listen to or download a recording of silvereye or wax-eye song.
Tree planting for attracting native birds
Threatened species classifications
Bird identification online course Learn how to identify 10 forest birds
Phone 0800 DOC HOTline (0800 362 468) 24 hour emergency number to report:
Sick or injured wildlife Whale or dolphin strandings
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