Plumbeous vireo

Plumbeous vireo
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Vireonidae
Genus: Vireo
Species:
V. plumbeus
Binomial name
Vireo plumbeus
Coues, 1866

The plumbeous vireo (Vireo plumbeus) is a small North American songbird, ranging from far southeastern areas of Montana and western South Dakota south to the Pacific coast of Mexico, which also includes the extreme southern regions of Baja California Sur. Known for its migratory behaviour, moving to the southern part of its range in winter, and its habitat generally encompasses open pine forests.

The plumbeous vireo is 4.75 inches (12 cm) in length, with a gray head, back, and flanks, and whitish underparts. It has a solid white eye ring and white wing bars.

The song, given persistently, consists of short, rough whistled phrases of several notes, spaced about 2 seconds apart. The phrases often alternate ending on a high note and a low note, giving an impression of question and answer.

The plumbeous vireo builds a cup nest out of bark strips and down in the fork of a twig. It lays 3 to 5 white eggs with some brown spots.

This species was formerly considered to belong to the same species as Cassin's vireo and blue-headed vireo. At that time, this complex of species was referred to as the "solitary vireo".

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Vireo plumbeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22705231A130373638. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22705231A130373638.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
Close-up of nest