Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Great Kai White-eye is classified as Near Threatened (NT), is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.
Great Kai White-eye (Zosterops grayi) – 1 (FC on Kai Besar) Little Kai White-eye (Zosterops uropygialis) – 30, 31, 2 Black-crowned White-eye (Zosterops atrifrons) – 25, 27, 28 Buru White-eye (Zosterops buruensis) – 13-15 (FC) Ambon White-eye (Zosterops kuehni) – 22, 23, 17 Gray-hooded White-eye (Lophozosterops pinaiae) - 28 White-tufted Honeyeater (Lichmera squamata) – 3-10 (C on Yamdena) Seram Honeyeater (Lichmera monticola) – 28 (one bird only) Seram Myzomela More
Great Kai White-eye Zosterops grayi: 6 in forest patches by the main road going left from the port of Elat inland and upwards on Kai Besar (Great Kai) where it is endemic. HBW and BirdLife have changed its name to Pearl-bellied White-eye. Near-Threatened. Little Kai White-eye Zosterops uropygialis: Fairly common, usually in pairs, in secondary forest patches on Kai Kecil (Little Kai). HBW and BirdLife have changed its name to Golden-bellied White-eye. Near-Threatened. More