The Makira white-eye (Zosterops rendovae), also known as the grey-throated white-eye, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family, Zosteropidae. It is also known as Zosterops ugiensis because Z. rendovae has often been used for the Solomons white-eye (Z. kulambangrae).[1] [2]
It is endemic to the island of Makira in the Solomon Islands archipelago. The Guadalcanal white-eye (Z. oblitus) on Guadalcanal and Bougainville white-eye (Z. hamlini) on Bougainville were formerly considered subspecies, but are now considered distinct species.[1] [3] It inhabits primary forest, mainly at 900–2000 m above sea-level but small numbers occur at lower levels.[4]
It is a small bird, 12–13 cm long. It is fairly dark green above with a brownish tail, a variable dark brown area between the eye and bill and a narrow white ring around the eye. The underparts are dark grey apart from the green chin, pale centre to the belly and yellow undertail-coverts. The bill is blackish with a pale base to the lower mandible.[4]