Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Zosteropidae
  4. ›
  5. Zosterops
  6. ›
  7. Canary White-eye
Canary White-eye
Photo · Broinowski, Gracius J.

BirdUp · Species

Canary White-eye

Zosterops luteusGould, 1843

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Zosteropidae
Genus
Zosterops

At a glance

The Canary White-eye is a tiny bird, about 10–13 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
10–13 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Canary White-eye look like?

The Canary White-eye is a tiny bird, about 10–13 cm long and weighing 6–12 g.

The canary white-eye or yellow white-eye is a species of white-eye endemic to northern Australia in subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. Its common name reflects the circle of white feathers around its eye.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
10–13 cm
Weight
6.2–11.8 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Canary White-eye?

The Canary White-eye is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Canary White-eye eat?

The Canary White-eye feeds on fruit, nectar/pollen and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Canary White-eye in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Canary White-eye live in Australia?

The Canary White-eye is endemic to Australia, recorded across 24 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning coastal north Australia.

BreedingCoastal north Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Passage
  • Vagrant
  • Resident

5 regions recorded