From Opus

Photo by Vogelman
Photo taken: High Island, Texas, USA..

Icteria virens

[edit] Identification

19cm. Olive upperparts, white belly, yellow throat and breast, long tail, thick heavy bill, large white eye-ring, and dark legs.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds in USA, western half of southern Canada and northern Mexico. Recent results suggest that at least part of the US population after having bred in early parts of summer migrates to north-western Mexico where a second round of breeding takes place before the birds go on the final migration to their winter home.

In winter found in Mexico (mostly southern half) though Central America to Panama.

[edit] Taxonomy

Two subspecies are recognized:

• virens
• auricollis

[edit] Habitat

Dense, brushy areas and hedgerows.

[edit] Behaviour

The nests of these birds are cup-shaped, and are placed in thick shrubs.

The diet includes insects and berries.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
2. Paper describing migration to second breeding area

• List of references

[edit] External Links