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Revision as of 17:02, 28 December 2007

Vireo gilvus

Photo by nomdeploom
Location: Lamoille Canyon, Nevada, USA
Click on photo for larger version.

Description

This songster has the widest range of any vireo in North America, and is more often heard than seen.

Identification

L. 13cm W. 22cm A drab vireo with few distinguishing marks; warbling song is the best clue. *Indistinct stripe over the (black) eye

• Upper parts are gray or olive-gray
• Whitish breast
• Light yellow wash on flanks
• Blue-gray legs and feet

Distribution

Throughout the U.S. except the deep south. Western provinces of Canada. Extreme western mainland of Mexico. Has declined in the eastern U.S. where shade trees have been sprayed with insecticides.

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia-> Phylum: Chordata-> Class: Aves -> Order: Passeriformes -> Family: Vireonidae-> Genus: Vireo -> Species: V. gilvus

Warbling vireo has a total of ten subspecies. One of these, victoriae has been claimed as a separate species, Cape Warbling Vireo. Another treatment is for this and three other subspecies (swainsonii, leucopolius, and sympatricus) to be split into Western Warbling vireo (would then be Vireo swainsonii), and the remaining subspecies to be Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) with subspecies gilvus, brewsteri, eleanorae, bulli, amauronotus, and strenuus. The current consensus among worldwide checklist makers seems to be not to accept this split.

Habitat

Treetops, especially large trees and along rivers and creeks

Behaviour

Individuals or pairs flit about in the treetops in wooded country, especially in riparian zones. Moves rapidly when foraging, but may perch in the same spot to sing for a several minutes. Often in the densest foliage, so hard to spot even when close.

Diet

Insects, caterpillars, insect eggs, and some fruits.

Voice

Song

A warble, repeatedly frequently; 12-20 syllables for eastern birds, shorter for western birds.

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