The mountain blackeye, sometimes referred to as the olive blackeye or simply black-eye, is a species of passerine bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the highest mountains on the island of Borneo. It is known from both Malaysian states on the island, and four of the five Indonesian provinces, but has never been recorded in Brunei. Typically found at elevations above 1,800 m (5,900 ft), the mountain blackeye sometimes moves to lower altitudes during periods of drought. There are four subspecies, which show clinal variations in size and coloring. Birds in the north are largest, darkest, and proportionately longer-tailed, while those further south are smaller, paler, and proportionately shorter-tailed. Adults are dark olive-green with a sharply-pointed, bright yellow-orange bill and a small dark mask connecting black lores with a black eye-ring. The subspecies show varying amounts of yellow in their plumage, particularly on the face and underparts. Young birds resemble their parents, but have less brightly colored bills.
Region
Borneo Highlands
Typical Environment
Occupies mossy montane forest, cloud forest, and subalpine scrub on the highest mountains of Borneo. Favors stunted, epiphyte-rich vegetation, forest edges, and flowering shrub zones near treeline, often in rhododendron and ericaceous thickets. In prolonged dry spells it may drift downslope into upper montane forest. It is recorded in both Malaysian Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) and Indonesian Kalimantan, but not from Brunei.
Altitude Range
1800–3600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This high-montane white-eye is restricted to the tallest peaks of Borneo, typically living above the cloud line. It shows clinal variation across its range, with northern birds being larger and darker than those further south. Its bright yellow-orange, needle-like bill and small dark facial mask make it distinctive among Bornean montane birds.
Illustrated by Keulemans (1888)
The mountain blackeye is the most common bird in summit scrub, such as this on Mount Kinabalu.
The mountain blackeye's diet includes nectar, pollen, insects, and small berries.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually travels in small, chattering parties and frequently joins mixed-species flocks in montane forest canopies and shrub layers. Pairs form during the breeding season, with cup nests placed in dense vegetation. They are agile gleaners, often hanging to probe leaves and flowers.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a thin, high-pitched series of sibilant chirps and twittering trills, delivered rapidly. Calls are sharp tseet notes used to keep contact within moving parties.
Plumage
Dark olive-green above with paler olive to yellow-tinged underparts; texture sleek and compact. Small dark mask links the black lores to a narrow blackish eye-ring. Extent of yellow on face and underparts varies geographically, being stronger in southern birds.
Diet
Takes small insects and spiders by gleaning foliage and twigs, occasionally making short sallies for aerial prey. Also consumes nectar from montane flowers, including rhododendrons and other ericaceous plants. Berries and other small fruits are eaten when available, especially in edge habitats.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in the mid-story to canopy of mossy montane forest and in subalpine shrub belts near treeline. Often concentrates around flowering shrubs and fruiting bushes along ridges and forest edges.
