Merlin
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Black-capped Vireo Identification

Black-capped Vireo Male
Male

Small songbird with a forward perching posture. Males have a black head and white spectacles that surround their red eye. White below with yellow washed flanks.

© Cameron Rutt | Macaulay LibraryTexas, May 22, 2013
Black-capped Vireo Female
Female

Small, somewhat stocky songbird with a hooked bill. Females have a gray head and white spectacles. Mostly white below with yellow washed flanks.

© David Hollie | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 19, 2015
Black-capped Vireo Male
Male

Sings throughout its territory during the breeding season, often perching on an exposed branch or dead twig just below the canopy of trees and shrubs. Song described as "drink yur, drink yur or drink yur teee."

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryMay 01, 1998
Black-capped Vireo Male
Male

Uniquely marked vireo with a black head and white spectacles surrounding a red eye. Yellow-olive above.

© Cameron Rutt | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 16, 2013
Black-capped Vireo Female
Female

Breeds in oak-juniper scrublands in Texas, Oklahoma, and northern Mexico.

© Michael Todd | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 24, 2016
See more images of this species in Macaulay Library

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Adult Description

  • Small songbird.
  • Black or dark gray head.
  • Red eyes surrounded by white spectacles.
  • Back olive.
  • Underparts white.
  • Two pale wingbars.

Male Description

Forehead, crown, nape, auriculars, and cheek black. Underparts white, with greenish or yellow flanks. Back olive-green. Wings black with two pale yellowish wingbars.

Female Description

Similar to male, but slightly duller. Cap gray instead of black.

Immature Description

Immature similar to adult female, but with dark brown eyes instead of red. Yearling male with gray on nape and back of crown.
Relative Size

Relative Sizesparrow or smallersparrow-sized or smaller
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 4.3 in (11 cm)
    • Weight: 0.3-0.3 oz (8-10 g)
    • Wingspan: 7.1 in (18 cm)

Species in This Family

Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis(Order: Passeriformes, Family:Vireonidae)

Black-capped VireoBlack-capped Vireo
White-eyed VireoWhite-eyed Vireo
Bell's VireoBell's Vireo
Gray VireoGray Vireo
Hutton's VireoHutton's Vireo
Yellow-throated VireoYellow-throated Vireo
Cassin's VireoCassin's Vireo
Blue-headed VireoBlue-headed Vireo
Plumbeous VireoPlumbeous Vireo
Philadelphia VireoPhiladelphia Vireo
Warbling VireoWarbling Vireo
Red-eyed VireoRed-eyed Vireo
Black-whiskered VireoBlack-whiskered Vireo

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