Eye-ring

[4][7][8][9] The bare orbital ring may be hardened or fleshy, or may form an eye-wattle.

Some eye-rings appear only at sexual maturity, while others suggest the individual's age or health status.

Individual birds may be included or excluded from reproductive capability due to signals conveyed by the eye-ring.

Red carotenoid-based colors of the orbital rings of pheasants are known to be related to health.

It is suspected that they may serve to highlight infestations of small ectoparasites around the eyes.

White-eyes are named for the conspicuous white eye-rings found in the majority of species. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Their genus name Zosterops likewise means "eye-girdle". [ 4 ]