It is further characterized by a narrow, white eye-ring, a rather long dark-grey tail and a small sharp bill.

The Seychelles white-eye's breeding season is from September to April, in which a clutch of two to seven eggs is laid into a cup-shaped nest.

It is apparently unique among all species of white-eyes and appears as a very peculiar social breeding organisation among birds in general.

The dramatic decline in population was caused by the extensive clearing of forests, competition with introduced birds (especially with the common myna), and from rat predation.

Birds subsequently died out on Cousine, but transfers to other islands have been successful, increasing the world population to perhaps 500.