white-eye (bird family Zosteropidae)
Refers to the entire white-eye family of birds. In everyday Japanese, メジロ usually means the Japanese white-eye specifically.
Birds of the white-eye family are widely distributed across Asia and Africa.
Japanese white-eye; Zosterops japonicus
The specific species commonly seen in Japan. Recognizable by its olive-green back and white eye-ring.
A Japanese white-eye has come to the plum tree in the garden.
The Japanese white-eye is characterized by the white ring around its eye.
Used for counting 目白 (mejiro, a type of bird) as birds; わ (wa) is the natural counter, though 匹 (hiki) is also used in everyday speech.
Usually written in kana; katakana is common in field guides and everyday use.
Kanji form, but kana is preferred in practice.
Alternate kanji; very uncommon.
The name メジロ (目白) literally means 'white eye', referring to the distinctive white ring around the bird's eye.