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Warbling vireo Facts

Warbling vireo Facts
Warbling vireo is songbird that belongs to the vireo family. It can be found in central and northern parts of North America. Warbling vireo inhabits deciduous forests, from the sea level to the altitude of 10.500 feet. It prefers areas near the streams, lakes and rivers. Warbling vireo can be occasionally found in the urban areas, parks, gardens and orchards. Major threats for the survival of warbling vireos are pollution with pesticides, construction of tall towers (birds collide with them during migration) and habitat destruction. Despite these factors, population of warbling vireos is still large and stable. Warble vireo is not on the list of endangered species.
Interesting Warbling vireo Facts:
Warbling vireo can reach 4.7 to 5.1 inches in length and 0.4 to 0.6 ounces of weight.
Warbling vireo has grey or olive green back and wings, yellow flanks and undertail coverts and white throat and belly.
Warbling vireo has stout bill, thick bluish-grey legs and long, grey tail.
Warbling vireo is an omnivore (it eats both plants and meat). It hunts caterpillars, moths, butterflies, beetles, ants, ladybugs and spiders during the spring and summer. Wild berries are on the menu during the autumn and winter.
Warbling vireo spends majority of time high in the treetops. It searches for food hidden under the leaves or inside the branches. Warbling vireo kills large prey by whacking it against the perch before it swallows it in one piece.
Warbling vireo migrates toward the Mexico and Central America in the autumn.
Warbling vireo produces highly variable, but rich, fast and lively songs that often end with high notes. Name "warbling" refers to warbling phrases of its songs.
Mating season of warbling vireos takes place during the summer. They produce one or two broods per season.
Males use songs to announce occupation of a territory. They constantly patrol along their territories and protect them from intruders.
Female chooses suitable place for the nest and collects twigs, spider's silk, lichen and animal hairs for its construction. Nest is cup-shaped, tucked in between forked branches and lined with grass, leaves and cotton.
Female lays 4 eggs that hatch after 12 to 14 days. Female is responsible for the incubation of eggs, while male guards the nest from potential intruders such as jays, grackles and squirrels.
Chicks are naked and helpless at birth. Both parents provide food for their chicks until they become ready to leave the nest at the age of 13 to 14 days.
Energy needs of chicks increase as they grow. During the last days in the nest, parents need to bring food 29 times per hour.
Brown-headed cowbird lays eggs in the nest of warbling vireo. Depending on the area, warbling vireo can raise little cowbird or eject egg from the nest.
Warbling vireo can survive up to 13 years in the wild.


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