Which small East Asian bird has a distinctive white eye ring?

Which small East Asian bird has a distinctive white eye ring?

• A. Cliff swallow
• B. Japanese white-eye
• C. Red crossbill
• D. European robin

Answer: (B)

The feature being tested is a distinctive facial mark: a bright white ring around the eye. This white eye-ring is a hallmark of the small group of birds commonly called white-eyes, and it makes them stand out against green foliage. The Japanese white-eye is a classic example, a tiny East Asian songbird with a clear, conspicuous white ring around its eye that gives it its name and makes it easy to recognize in the field.

Other birds in the list don’t share this characteristic. A cliff swallow is a small swallow with a plain face and no prominent eye-ring. A red crossbill is a finch with a distinctive crossed bill used to pry open conifer seeds, but it doesn’t display a notable white eye-ring. A European robin is a familiar passerine from Europe that also lacks a white eye-ring and isn’t a typical East Asian species.

So, the unique white eye-ring identifies the Japanese white-eye as the correct choice.