Golden Vireo
Vireo hypochryseus
Small, rather chunky but long-tailed bird of tropical forest and woodland in lowlands and foothills; endemic to western Mexico. Feeds at all levels, often at fruiting trees and bushes with other vireos and fruit-eating birds. Like most vireos, generally rather sluggish. Bright yellow-and-greenish plumage, plus cocked tail, strongly suggest smaller and more lightly built Wilson’s Warbler, but note the vireo’s broad pale eyebrow, stouter bill, and stronger blue-gray legs.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Vireo hypochryseus
- Authority
- Sclater, PL, 1863
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Vireonidae
- Genus
- Vireo
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Ash-throated Antwren
Herpsilochmus parkeri
Rare antwren restricted to a small area of the eastern Andes in northern Peru. Note the black cap, striped face, white wingbars, and lack of rufous in the wing. Female has a buffy tinge on her face and throat. While several other antwrens in Peru share similar plumage features, none of them occur in the limited range of this species. Inhabits the canopy of stunted cloud forest, especially on ridgetops. Song starts with a few rising notes and ends with a descending trill.
Velvety Manakin
Lepidothrix velutina
Small, short-tailed bird found in lowland and foothill rainforest. Male is easy to identify with his glossy black body and azure crown. Female is mostly lime green with a yellowish belly; her plumage is much greener than other similar species such as Choco Manakin and female Red-capped Manakin. Most common call is a short, ringing trill. Male’s display song is a buzzy “purwit!”. Usually seen at lower to middle levels in the forest, plucking berries from fruiting trees. Formerly called Blue-crowned Manakin before that species was split. Velvety Manakin’s range includes Costa Rica, Panama, western Colombia, and northwestern Ecuador.
Brown-cheeked Bulbul
Alophoixus bres
A large bulbul with a brown crest, a white throat, a greenish-brown back, and a dirty yellow breast and belly. The short crest is often inconspicuous. Found on Java and Bali in forest at low and middle elevations. Song is long and variable, mixing rough “krawk” notes with more musical “chu-kit” phrases. Distinctive within its limited range: separated from other bulbuls by the short crest and yellow underparts.
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