Heuglin's White-eye (Zosterops poliogastrus) [XC300897]
by Adrian Hinkle from Negash lodge, Ethiopia (call)
Heuglin's White-eye (Zosterops poliogastrus) [XC268777]
by Peter Boesman from Debre Libanos Monastery, Ethiopia (call)
Subspecies
Zosterops poliogaster (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) was split into Zosterops poliogastrus, Zosterops kulalensis, Zosterops winifredae and Zosterops silvanus by Collar et al. (1994) but the minor plumage differences are not considered sufficient to warrant this treatment, which is no longer adopted by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group. Gender agreement of Zosterops poliogastrus follows David and Gosselin (2002a).
Sometimes thought to form a superspecies with Abyssinian White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus), Orange River White-eye (Zosterops pallidus), African Yellow White-eye (Zosterops senegalensis) and Pemba White-eye (Zosterops vaughani). Subspecies gerhardi and jacksoni of African Yellow White-eye (Zosterops senegalensis) have at times been included in present species, but seem closer to former species. Geographical variation quite well marked. Each of the subspecies silvanus, kikuyuensis, eurycricotus, kulalensis, winifredae and mbuluensis has been considered to be a full species.
The following 8 subspecies are recognised:
poliogastrus Heuglin, 1861 - Eritrea, and Ethiopian Highlands (except west, south-west) south to Addis Ababa (also Yavello) and east to Harar; and locally in mountains of south-eastern Sudan (Imatong, Dongotona, Didinga).
kaffensis Neumann, 1902 - Western and south-western Ethiopia. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Kaffa White-eye (Zosterops kaffensis).
kulalensis Williams, JG, 1948 - Mt Kulal, in northern Kenya. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Kulal White-eye (Zosterops kulalensis).
kikuyuensis Sharpe, 1891 - Central Kenyan Highlands from Meru district, Mt Kenya and Aberdare Mts south to Nairobi. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Kikuyu White-eye (Zosterops kikuyuensis).
eurycricotus G. A. Fischer and Reichenow, 1884 - Northern Tanzania (Mt Kilimanjaro region, Arusha, Mt Meru, Essimingor, Lossogonoi, Lolkissale). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Kilimanjaro White-eye (Zosterops eurycricotus).
mbuluensis W. L. Sclater and Moreau, 1935 - Southern Kenya (Namanga Hill and Chyulu Hills) and northern Tanzania (from Mt Hanang, Mbulu and Crater Highlands, Mt Ketumbeine and Longido east to northern Pare Mts). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Mbulu White-eye (Zosterops mbuluensis).
silvanus J. L. Peters and Loveridge, 1935 - Mt Kasigau and Teita Hills, in south-eastern Kenya. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Taita White-eye (Zosterops silvanus).
winifredae W. L. Sclater, 1934 - Southern Pare Mts, in north-eastern Tanzania. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, South Pare White-eye (Zosterops winifredae).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet