Bonin white-eye | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Meliphagidae |
Genus: |
Apalopteron Bonaparte, 1854 |
Species: | A. familiare |
Binomial name | |
Apalopteron familiare (Kittlitz, 1830) |
The Bonin white-eye (Apalopteron familiare) or meguro (メグロ) is a small yellow and grey bird endemic to the Ogasawara Islands (formerly Bonin Islands) of Japan. Until recently it was considered part of the family Meliphagidae of honeyeaters and was called the Bonin honeyeater.
A distinctive feature of the bird is the white rim around the eyes, which is then surrounded by black masking.
Presently its habitat is restricted to Haha-jima Island. Until several years ago it could also be found on Chichi-jima Island. Because of the bird's small range of habitat, its status is listed as Near Threatened.
A subspecies, the Mukojima white-eye, is extinct.