Swinhoe's White-eye, in the shade
Zosterops simplex
Swinhoe's White-eye · San Diego Botanic Garden · 7 March 2026
A Swinhoe's White-eye in a stand of bamboo and out of the sun in a San Diego garden in March, moving through the foliage with a small restless party of others - not the kinglet it was first written up as. An Asian bird of gardens and forest edge, established in coastal San Diego County from aviary escapes in the 1980s.
In shade the yellow-green dulls to olive-grey and a wing bar shows, which is what suggested a kinglet; the complete, bold white ring round the eye is the mark that does not change with the light, where a kinglet's is broken above the eye. White-eyes work the undersides of leaves for insects and take nectar where they find it, which in a San Diego garden in March is everywhere.
Birds, insects, plants and other wildlife, mostly from Brooklyn, with some from further afield.
Every photograph comes with notes on what it is.
Selected
Favourite shots. Filter by subject, or .
Places
Everything, by where it was taken.
Species
Larger catalogue of photos organized by species of animal or plant.
Catalogue
Every photograph, newest first. Narrow it by period, place or species; the three work together.
Updates
Coming soon. Sign up at the bottom of the page for updates.