Black-capped Vireo
NameBlack-capped Vireo
Common NameBlack-capped Vireo
Scientific NameVireo atricapilla
FamilyVireonidae
Wingspan (cm)17.5
Length (cm)12
Weight (g)9
Plumage DetailsMales have a glossy black cap, bright white spectacles (eye-ring), and an olive-green back. Their underparts are white, often with yellowish flanks, and they display two prominent white wing bars. Females have a duller, grayish-black cap.
Vocalization / CallThe song is a distinctive, complex, and often hurried series of short, buzzy phrases, typically ending with an upward inflection. It can be quite varied and energetic.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeBreeds in central Oklahoma and central Texas, migrating to western Mexico for the winter.
Identifying FeaturesBlack cap (males), Prominent white eye-ring (spectacles), Olive-green back, White underparts, Two white wing bars, Small size
Description
This small, active songbird is characterized by its distinctive black cap and prominent white eye-ring. It typically forages for insects in dense, scrubby vegetation, often found in oak-juniper woodlands.
