Puerto Rican Vireo - BirdForum Opus

Vireo latimeri

Photo by Stanley Jones
Maricao State Forest near San Germán, Puerto Rico, USA, November, 2012

Identifciation

This small true vireo endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico has a grey head, a white breast and a yellow belly. 12 cm (4.72 in) and weighs from 11 to 12 grams (0.388–0.423 oz).

Its local name is bien-te-veo ("see-you-well", after the call), not to be confused with the unrelated Bienteveo tyrant flycatcher which is found elsewhere.

Distribution

Endemic to western Puerto Rico.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species¹.

Habitat

Forested areas, mostly at moderate height, but can also be found high in the Maricao area. Avoids open areas.

Behaviour

The diet consists of grasshoppers, caterpillars, cicadas, beetles and aphids and is complemented with spiders, Anolis, and berries.

From 1973–1996 the species suffered a population decline in the Guánica State Forest. The primary reason for this decline was brood parasitism by the Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis).

References

1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
2. Raffaele et al. 1998. Birds of the West Indies. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0713649054

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