Scrub Greenlet

Hylophilus flavipes

Small vireo-like bird, olive above and yellowish below with a grayer head. Quite nondescript but look for pointy pink bill, and in most populations, a pale eye. Birds on Tobago have dark eyes. Sexes alike. Prefers scrubby second growth, usually low. Often seen in pairs. Listen for simple series of whistled notes.

Identification

The scrub greenlet (Hylophilus flavipes) is a small passerine bird in the family Vireonidae, the vireos, greenlets, and shrike-babblers. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Tobago, and Venezuela.

Taxonomy

There are currently seven recognized subspecies of scrub greenlets. They are sorted into two groups: Central American and Southern American. The first group, the scrub greenlet (yellow-green), is a subspecies found in Central America, and it is known as conspecific with H. flavipes. These scrub greenlets have dark yellow underparts and bright green upperparts. This group encompasses two subspecies: Hylophilus flavipes viridiflavus and Hylophilus flavipes xuthus. H. flavipes viridiflavus has been sighted in Southwestern Costa Rica, Panama, and on the Pacific coast, east to the lower Bayano River. H. flavipes xuthus is similar to H. flavipes viridiflavus but it is less yellow in color, has darker green flanks and upperparts, and has a heavier bill. It has been sighted on Coiba Island.  <p>The second group, scrub greenlet (scrub) is the grouping of subspecies found in South America, and it is known as conspecific with H. viridiflavus and H. insularis. It encompasses four subspecies:<p>The third grouping of scrub greenlets is the scrub greenlet (Tobago) and it includes one subspecies: H. insularis. It is found in Tobago and is larger than the nominate subspecies.

Scientific name
Hylophilus flavipes
Authority
Lafresnaye, 1845
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Vireonidae
Genus
Hylophilus

Range and habitat

Scrub greenlets inhabit forest edges, savanna, and light woodland areas of lower sea level.

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Migration pattern: Resident species.

Conservation

Population trend: stable.

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

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