Black-capped Vireo

Vireo atricapillaOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Vireos (Vireonidae)

Codes: Common Name: BCVI Scientific Name: VIRATR ITIS Taxonomic No.: 178990

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Overview

Black-capped Vireo: Small vireo, olive-green upperparts, black hood, white spectacles interrupted with black above the eye, white underparts with olive-yellow flanks. Wings are dark with two pale bars. Iris is red-brown to red. It has been listed as an endangered species since 1987.

Range and Habitat

Black-capped Vireo: Breeds from Oklahoma to central Texas. Spends winters in Mexico. Preferred habitats include rangelands with scattered clumps of shrubs separated by open grasslands.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"Come here, right-now-quick", "ji-dit"

Interesting Facts

Studies have revealed that as many as 90 percent of the Black-capped Vireo nests in Texas and Oklahoma had been invaded by cowbirds. Under such predation, they may fail to reproduce at a rate that can sustain their population.

Foliage that extends to ground level is the most important requirement for nesting. They will not use sites where many trees are nearing full size.

They have a titmouse-like habit of hanging upside down while foraging among twigs.

A group of vireos are collectively known as a "call" of vireos.

Bird Term Glossary

Author

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Artist

Samira Belous

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Black-capped Vireo

● Song: "Come here, right-now-quick", "ji-dit"

● Foraging & Feeding: Black-capped Vireo: Feeds on insects and insect eggs, spiders, and small fruits and berries; forages for food in deep cover among trees and thickets.

● Breeding & nesting: Black-capped Vireo: Three to five white eggs are laid in a nest made of twigs, bark, and leaves, bound with silk, lined with fine grass, and built from 1 to 15 feet above the ground in a scrub oak or other short, deciduous tree. Incubation ranges from 14 to 17 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Black-capped Vireo: Blue-headed Vireo is larger, lacks red iris, and has spectacles that are broken in front of eye.

Flight Pattern

Somewhat weak fluttering direct flight on rapidly beating wings.

Black-capped Vireo Breeding Male Body Illustration

● Range & Habitat: Black-capped Vireo: Breeds from Oklahoma to central Texas. Spends winters in Mexico. Preferred habitats include rangelands with scattered clumps of shrubs separated by open grasslands.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationUncommon to fairly common, Endangered

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight0.3 Ounces

Perching-like Body

Underparts

Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.

Upperparts

Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America