Plumbeous Vireo
Encyclopedia
The Plumbeous Vireo is a small North America
n songbird
, ranging from far southeastern Montana
and western South Dakota
south to the Pacific coast of Mexico
, including the extreme southern regions of Baja California Sur
. It is migratory, 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
".
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n songbird
Songbird
A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds . Another name that is sometimes seen as scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin oscen, "a songbird"...
, ranging from far southeastern Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
and western South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
south to the Pacific coast of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, including the extreme southern regions of Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
. It is migratory, 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
Cassin's Vireo
Cassin's Vireo is a small North American songbird, ranging from southern British Columbia in Canada through the western coastal states of the United States. This bird migrates, spending the winter from southern Arizona to southern Mexico.The vireo is 11–14 cm in length, with a gray head, back,...
and Blue-headed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
The Blue-headed Vireo is a Neotropical migrating song bird found in North and Central America. There are currently two recognized sub-species that belong to the Blue-headed Vireo. It has a range that extends across Canada and the eastern coast of the United-States, Mexico and some of Central America...
. At that time, this complex of species was referred to as the "Solitary Vireo
Solitary Vireo
"Solitary Vireo" is a collective term for certain vireos. These were formerly believed to make up a single species Vireo solitarius, but are now treated as three allopatric species:...
".
External links
- Plumbeous Vireo species account Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Plumbeous Vireo at USGS
- Plumbeous Vireo from eNature.com, including photograph
- Page with recordings of the Plumbeous Vireo from Naturesongs, accessed June 20, 2006
- Plumbeous Vireo photo gallery VIREO-(Visual Resources for Ornithology)
- Photo: bird and nest-High Res; Article pbase.com(T.Munson)
- Photo: bird on nest-High Res; Article, w/photo gallery(HighRes) "Utah Birds" www.utahbirds.org
- Photo-High Res; Article-(with synopsis fireflyforest.net
