Photo: Albuttlee at English Wikipedia / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-whiskered Vireo
Vireo altiloquus
Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus) is a member of the Vireonidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 19 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Vireonidae Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers
- Genus Vireo
- Species altiloquus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 19 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Vireonidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-whiskered Vireo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-whiskered Vireo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus) is a species of bird in the Vireonidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA se USA and West Indies.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 19 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 5.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 244,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-whiskered Vireo?
The Black-whiskered Vireo is a small bird that weighs around 19 g.
Where does the Black-whiskered Vireo live?
The Black-whiskered Vireo is found across North America with a range covering NA se USA and West Indies, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-whiskered Vireo belong to?
The Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus) belongs to the Vireonidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-whiskered Vireo eat?
The Black-whiskered Vireo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-whiskered Vireo migrate?
The Black-whiskered Vireo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-whiskered Vireo endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-whiskered Vireo make?
1 real field recording of the Black-whiskered Vireo — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-whiskered Vireo's range?
The Black-whiskered Vireo has a mapped global range of about 244,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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