Brown-capped Vireo
Vireo leucophrys
Rather plain vireo of humid evergreen and pine-evergreen forest in highlands and foothills. Northern populations (Mexico to Nicaragua) look and sound much like Warbling Vireo, but with browner upperparts and a distinctly brown cap. Usually at middle to upper levels in trees, where sings persistently in summer. Southern populations (Costa Rica to South America) have different song and distinct yellowish wash on breast and belly.
Identification
The brown-capped vireo (Vireo leucophrys) is a small passerine bird in the family Vireonidae, the vireos, greenlets, and shrike-babblers. It is found in Mexico, much of Central America, and in South America from Venezuela to Bolivia.
Taxonomy
Genus: Vireo; Family: Vireonidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Vireo leucophrys
- Authority
- (Lafresnaye, 1844)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Vireonidae
- Genus
- Vireo
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-legged Seriema
Cariama cristata
Unmistakable large terrestrial raptorial bird. Sandy-colored overall with very long red legs, a long tail, and tufty crest in front of the eyes. Note the strong red bill and large pale eyes with blue eyerings. Strides elegantly through open and lightly wooded savannas but also perches on the top of trees. Usually sings at dawn, an evocative and incredibly loud “kuap-kuap-kuap-kuap” often delivered as a duet for extended periods.
Slaty Elaenia
Elaenia strepera
Highly migratory flycatcher; it nests from about September through March along the east slope of the Andes in Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, then disperses as far as northern South America. It is mostly gray, with a pale belly, faint wingbars, and a broken eyering. Bill is stubby and yellow at the base. Male has a white crown patch that is usually hidden; females and immatures are tinged olive. Inhabits humid forest, and very inconspicuous when not singing. Typical song is an accelerating, toneless rasp, and it remains almost totally silent outside of its breeding range.
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Glaucis hirsutus
Fairly large hermit with rufous underparts and no elongated central tail feathers. Long decurved bill has a yellow lower mandible. Rounded tail is mostly rufous at the base with a black band and small white tips on each feather. Superficially similar to other hermits, but combination of tail shape and underpart color should be sufficient to identify. The very similar Bronzy Hermit does not overlap in range. An understory species that is fairly shy and most often seen feeding from Heliconia flowers.
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