White-Eye Bird

White-eyes are master colonizers, having spread across the Old World tropics to produce over 100 species. Unlike Darwin's finches, which diversified on a single archipelago, white-eyes island-hop continuously, establishing populations that then diverge in isolation. This creates a network of related but distinct species across oceanic islands from Africa to the Pacific.

The white-eye strategy combines high dispersal ability with rapid local adaptation. They reach remote islands that other birds cannot, then evolve endemic forms in isolation. This colonize-and-diverge pattern produces species faster than single-island radiations - each successful colonization creates another opportunity for speciation.

The business parallel applies to serial market entry strategies. Some companies excel at entering new markets rapidly, establishing local presence, then adapting to local conditions while maintaining connection to the parent organization. This franchise-like expansion mirrors white-eye dispersal - each new market entry creates opportunity for local differentiation while benefiting from parent company capabilities.

White-eyes also demonstrate how network structure affects diversification. Their island-hopping creates a connected network of populations that occasionally exchange genes, maintaining diversity without complete isolation. Companies with strong international networks similarly balance local adaptation with global coordination, neither fully independent subsidiaries nor uniform global operations.