Black-Whiskered Vireo

Black-whiskered Vireo (Eng.), Julian Chiv(Sp.), Vireo altiloquus (Sci.), Resident, Florida, West Indies (Dominican Republic to offshore Venezuela islands).

Photo B. Hallett from the book Puerto Rico Birds in Photographs by Mark W. Oberle. Information compiled by Alan Mowbray, Interpretive Media Writer, EYNF/LEF

General Information

The Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus) is a small passerine (perching and songbird) bird which breeds in southern Florida and the West Indies as far south as the offshore islands of Venezuela. The Black-whiskered Vireo migrates from the greater Antilles (including Puerto Rico) to Venezuela, Columbia and Brazil in northern South America. It is of the order Passeriformes, family Vireonidae, genus Vireo.

Description

Vireo altiloquus measures 5.5 to 5.9 inches (14 to 15 centimeters) in length, has a wingspan of 9.8 inches (25 centimeters) and weighs 0.5 to 0.6 ounces (17 to 19 grams). It has thick, blue-gray legs and a stout bill with the upper mandible slightly downward curved at the tip. The adult bird has a dull, olive-green colored upper body a white underbody and a yellowish color on the flanks and under the tail. It has red eyes and a gray-brown crown with faintly darker edges. It has a dark line through the eye-parts with a white eyebrow strip above. The hiskersare distinct black lines which appear on the neck sides. Juvenile birds are similar in coloration but have brownish-red eyes.

Habits

The Black-whiskered Vireo moves slowly through the forest canopy gleaning insects from leaves. Its diet includes caterpillars, mantids, walking sticks, cicadas, grasshoppers, beetles, wasps, ants and small frogs. An omnivore, over half of its diet consists of fruits and berries. Its song is a monotonous repetition which resembles its Spanish name ulian Chivor its Jamaican name weet John Chew-it. Click here to hear its call. Females build round, basket-shaped nests on a forked limb, laying 2 to 3 white eggs with brown or purple spots. The female incubates the eggs but both sexes feed the chicks. Most birds arrive on the island in February and March, staying until August when they depart for the winter to northern South America. A few birds spend the entire year in Puerto Rico.

Habitat

Vireo altiloquus occurs in wooded areas and clearings throughout southern Florida and the West Indies islands. It is more often heard before it is seen.

Where to look for this animal in the EYNF

The Black-whiskered Vireo is frequently seen (or heard) from late February until August in forested areas and clearings along the El Portal Nature Trail, the Big Tree Nature Trail, the Ba de Oro Nature Trail and the lower Mount Britton Nature Trail.