He subsequently spent three years at the University of Otago in New Zealand where he began what was to become an enduring focus of research, the behavioural ecology of Silvereyes and other species of Zosterops.
Rota White-eye, Zosterops rotensis (formerly in conspicillatus)
the Mascarene White-eye (Zosterops borbonicus) of Mauritius and Réunion
It is also known as Zosterops ugiensis because Z. rendovae has often been used for the Solomons White-eye (Z. kulambangrae).
Edward Newton described it as a full species Zosterops semiflava in 1867, though subsequently it was considered a subspecies of the Mayotte White-eye.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Black-fronted White-eye, Zosterops minor, but work by Pamela C. Rasmussen and her colleagues showed that it is a separate species.
It is also known as Zosterops rendovae but this name properly refers to the Grey-throated White-eye.
This species can be distinguished from the widespread Oriental White-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus, by its larger size, duller green back and more extensive yellow on the breast.
The decline of the White-chested White-eye began as the introduced Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) became naturalized on Norfolk Island.