Yucatan Vireo

Overview

The Yucatan vireo (Vireo magister) is a species of bird in the family Vireonidae, characterised by a disjunct distribution across Central America and the Caribbean. It is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with an estimated population of 20,000 to 50,000 mature individuals that is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• About 15 cm long and weighing 13.5 to 25 g, with sexes displaying identical plumage.
• Nominate subspecies feature a pale brownish-white supercilium, brownish-grey lores, and dark grey-brown upperparts with an olive tinge.
• Underparts are buffy-white on the throat and central breast, transitioning to white on the belly and vent, with greyish flanks.
• Possesses a stout grey bill with a paler base, a blackish iris, and bluish or blue-grey legs.
• Vocalisations include a two-note whistle on Grand Cayman and rich warbles described as "cheer up sweet" in Belize.

Habitat

Found in southeastern Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Grand Cayman, the species inhabits varied tropical landscapes including deciduous, secondary, and mangrove forests, as well as scrubby coastal woodlands. In specific localities, it occupies pine thickets on ridges in Belize and limestone-soil forests on Grand Cayman. The Yucatan vireo is a year-round resident throughout its range.

Diet

The diet of the Yucatan vireo is nearly unknown, though it is believed to feed mostly on fruit on Grand Cayman. It forages quietly and secretively at all levels within its habitat.

Did you know?

The species has been documented as a vagrant in Texas, with a well-known record from High Island in 1984.