Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus)

Identification & Behavior: ~16 cm (6.3 in). The Black-whiskered Vireo has a gray or gray-brown cap bordered by a broad pale eyebrow. The upperparts are grayish-olive to yellowish-olive. The underparts are whitish. It has two distinctive black malar stripes. The bill is relatively thick and bluish-gray in color. The Black-whiskered Vireo is primarily a mangrove forest bird. During migration, they inhabit hardwood forests. It is very similar to the Red-eyed Vireo and Yellow-Green Vireo.

Status: The Black-whiskered Vireo is largely a Caribbean bird. Although it is known to winter in northern Amazonia. This vireo has been added to the list of Peru birds in 2019, based on a bird photographed in Parque Central de Miraflores, an urban park,  in the city of Lima. It also occurs in Co and Br.

Name in Spanish: Vireo de Bigote Negro.

Sub-species: Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus). The subspecies for this vagrant vireo is yet to be determined.

Meaning of Name: Vireo: L. virere= to be green; vireo, vireonis= small green bird. altiloquus: L altus= loud, high-pitched, and loqui= to speak, for birds= to sing.

See more of the Family Vireonidae