Vanikoro White-eye Zosterops gibbsi NOT YET EVALUATED
Vanikoro White-eye
A new species of white-eye, the Vanikoro White-eye Zosterops gibbsi, is described from the island of Vanikoro (= Vanikolo) in the Santa Cruz Islands (= Temotu Province) within the Solomon Islands. It differs from the geographically closest white-eye, the Santa Cruz White-eye Zosterops sanctaecrucis, by a number of features including a much longer bill, and different leg- and eye-ring colour. This is the second bird species endemic to Vanikoro; the neighbouring Nendo Island supports three endemic species. Although the conservation status of this species appears to be secure, the Santa Cruz Islands are very poorly known. The Santa Cruz Islands lie in the Vanuatu rain forests ecoregion. Within its range the Vanikoro White-eye is common in upland forests although it also occurs in degraded lowland forests. Despite supporting several globally threatened species, the Islands at present are not protected by any conservation activity.
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