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Black-capped Vireo

Vireo atricapillaOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Vireos (Vireonidae)

Black-capped Vireo Breeding Male Portrait
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General

Black-capped Vireo: Small vireo with olive-green upperparts, black hood, white spectacles interrupted with black above the eye, and white underparts with olive-yellow flanks. Wings are dark with two pale bars. Iris is red-brown to red. Female and juvenile are similar but have gray caps and brown irises.

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.

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.



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Black-capped Vireo
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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.
Family Vireos and Allies (Vireonidae)_blue
Species Vireo atricapilla
Length4 - 4.75 Inches
Wingspan7.5 Inches

Black-capped Vireo

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.

● 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