Vireo altiloquus
The Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus) is a medium-sized songbird, measuring about 13-14.5 cm (5.1-5.7 in) in length with a wingspan of approximately 23 cm (9 in) and weighing 12-19 grams. Its plumage is generally olive-green on the back, transitioning to a pale yellowish-white belly, often with a faint yellowish wash on the flanks. Distinctive field marks include a dull white supercilium, a faint, incomplete eye-ring, and, most notably, prominent blackish malar stripes or 'whiskers' ex...
Found in tropical and subtropical broadleaf forests, woodlands, mangroves, and dense thickets, often favoring humid areas near coastlines or riparian zones at low to moderate elevations.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on caterpillars, beetles, flies, and other arthropods; also consumes a significant amount of fruit, especially berries, making it an important seed disperser.
Black-whiskered Vireos are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging high in the canopy and roosting inconspicuously at night within dense foliage. Their foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning insects and spiders from leaves and twigs, often in a deliberate, slow manner, but they are ...
The Black-whiskered Vireo breeds extensively across the Caribbean islands, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the Lesser Antilles, with populations stretching south to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. A small, often sporadic breeding population also occurs in extreme southern F...
Least Concern
- The Black-whiskered Vireo is named for its distinctive dark malar stripes, which resemble 'whiskers'. - Unlike many other vireos, this species consumes a substantial amount of fruit, particularly during the non-breeding season, making it an important seed disperser in its tropical habitats. - I...