Black-capped Vireo

The Black-capped Vireo, Vireo atricapilla, is a small bird native to the United States and Mexico. It has been listed as an endangered species in the United States since 1987. The IUCN lists the species as vulnerable.

The Black-capped Vireo is classified as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Black-capped vireos have a lifespan of 5-6 years. Males sing to attract mates and defend territories, which are usually 2 to 4 acres in size. Vireos return year after year to the same area to nest. Habitat Rangelands with scattered clumps of shrubs separated by open grassland are preferred habitat for the black-capped vireo. More

The Black-capped Vireo, Vireo atricapilla, is a small bird native to the United States and Mexico. It has been listed as an endangered species in the United States since 1987. The IUCN lists the species as vulnerable. The Black-capped Vireo is a songbird about 12 cm (4.5 inches ) in length. Sexually mature males are olive green above and white below with faint yellow flanks. The crown and upper half of the head is black with a partial white eye-ring and lores. More

Bird Story: Black-Capped Vireo—Hope for Survival? = Howard Robinson for National Geographic BirdWatcher January 31, 2003 The black-capped vireo is a little bird with a big problem. Its population and breeding range have decreased so much that it was placed on the endangered species list in 1987. Without help, black-capped vireos seemed unlikely to survive in the United States. More

The smallest vireo in the United States, the Black-capped Vireo is a colorful songbird, whose closest relative is the Mexican Dwarf Vireo. Avid songsters, the male even sings while incubating eggs and catching food. Listed as Endangered since 1987, U.S. populations still appear to be declining overall, including range losses in Kansas and Oklahoma. Some managed populations in Texas have increased significantly, and some new populations have been discovered in Mexico. More

Black-capped Vireo nests in Texas and Oklahoma had been invaded by cowbirds. Under such predation, they may fail to reproduce at a rate that can sustain their population. * Foliage that extends to ground level is the most important requirement for nesting. They will not use sites where many trees are nearing full size. More

The Black-capped Vireo breeds only in Texas (principally the Edwards Plateau), three counties in central Oklahoma, and a small area of north-central Mexico. Populations are disjunct and thought to be declining. Nesting primarily in low scrubby deciduous growth, it formerly bred in Kansas but has been extirpated there. Commonly it is found in areas which have been recently burned; fire suppresses invading junipers and enhances growth of fire-adaptive oaks, creating good vireo habitat. Nestlings are sometimes killed by fire ants. More

Black-capped Vireo inhabits low scrublands of Oklahoma, Texas, and northern Mexico. Habitat changes and nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds have caused Black-capped Vireo populations to vanish across much of the northern part of its historic range and it now is listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. More

Black-capped Vireos nest in "shinnery," brushy areas with scattered trees. Shinneries primarily consist of shin oak or sumac. Appropriate height and density are important factors for this species' breeding success. Junipers seem to be of little or no importance. Foliage that extends to ground level is the most important requirement for nesting. Most nests are between 15 and 50 inches (35–125 cm) above ground level and are screened from view by foliage. More

The female Black-capped Vireo is the only endangered species that calls Fort Sill home. It lives in the ranges and mountains of West Range. * Female Vireo Victor W. Fazio, III, Fort Sill The female Black-capped Vireo is the only endangered species that calls Fort Sill home. It lives in the ranges and mountains of West Range. FORT SILL, Okla. More

The Black-capped Vireo, Vireo atricapillus, is native to the United States and Mexico. This species once bred from north-central Mexico north through Texas and Oklahoma to Kansas. But has now disappeared from Kansas and occurs in only three counties in Oklahoma. It can still be found in central Texas south to north-central Mexico. Its range is shrinking and much-fragmented, mostly due to human impacts, such as human development, agriculture and fire suppression. More

population of Black-capped Vireos, and cowbird trapping is conducted in local areas to increase vireo reproduction. Young male Black-capped Vireos begin learning to sing at only one to two months of age. During the nesting season, males will sing throughout the day, often from a perch near the top of a tree. Follow the links on the left for additional information. The Birdzilla. More

Bent Life History for the Black-capped Vireo - the common name and sub-species reflect the nomenclature in use at the time the description was written. BLACK-CAPPED VIREO VIREO ATRICAPILLUS Woodhouse HABITS This well-marked and handsome vireo was discovered by Dr. S. W. Woodhouse while attached to Capt. L. Sitgreaves's expedition down the Zuni and Colorado Rivers, lie took two specimens, both males, near the source of the Rio San Pedro in western Texas on May 26, 1851. More

The breeding range of the black-capped vireo extends across much of central Texas, portions of northern Mexico, and one isolated area in south central Oklahoma. Declines in vireo populations are attributed to habitat loss and parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird. The vireo relies on disturbance-dependent deciduous shrublands that historically were created and maintained by lightning-sparked wildfires and perhaps severe wind and ice storms. More

Description: The black-capped vireo is a songbird about 4.5 inches (12 cm) in length. Sexually mature males are olive green above and white below with faint yellow flanks. The crown and upper half of the head is black with a partial white eye-ring and lores. The iris is brownish-red and the bill is black. Females are duller in color than males and have a slate gray crown and underparts washed with greenish yellow. More

Photo of a male black-capped vireo on a nest. Photo Credit: Victor Fazio. An example of what vireo habitat looks like - photo of Mount Scott. Photo Credit: USFWS. The black-capped vireo breeds in a relatively narrow area of the south-central United States and north-central Mexico. It was likely extirpated from Kansas by the 1930’s and is now gravely endangered in Oklahoma and much of the northern, eastern, and central portions of its range in Texas. More

* Comments: The black-capped vireo has not been confirmed in Kansas since 1953. However, it once nested in the Red Hills and was considered common in Comanche County by N. S. Goss in the More

The Black-capped Vireo (Vireo atricapillus) occurs across much of the Edwards Plateau of Texas. It is also known to nest in Oklahoma in small numbers as well as in northern Mexico in some locations. This species can be very difficult to see since it often stays within thick brush and other vegetation. With patience, however, an observer can sometimes get a good look at this Texas speciality. More

black-capped vireo and golden-cheeked warbler, songbirds that have flourished in recent years amid the din and destruction of field exercises and tank training. More

population of black-capped vireos is currently imperiled. The species is also extremely vulnerable to nest parasitism by cowbirds, with some populations suffering rates of parasitism as high as 100 percent. The Conservancy is working to restore and preserve critical habitat for these birds at Barton Creek Habitat Preserve, Love Creek Preserve, Dolan Falls Preserve, and the Fort Hood Project. More

nest parasitism, and assess black-capped vireo production and recruitment in Oklahoma. Partnerships Department of the Army: The Army has maintained and increased usable vireo breeding habitat at Fort Sill, which has resulted in increases in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge population. The vireo population at Fort Sill is being monitored; brown-headed cowbird trapping was initiated in 1992. More

Black-capped Vireos nest in Texas during April through... Click to show "Black-capped Vireo" result 3 288 x 249 15 kb Black-capped Vireo Click to show "Black-capped Vireo" result 4 330 x 402 49 kb Return to the Okie BirdCam Click to show "Black-capped Vireo" result 5 202 x 295 22 kb Black-capped Vireo 630. Vireo atricapillus . 4 1/2 inches... More

territory, the Black-capped Vireo will no longer use that site. The historic breeding distribution of the Black-capped Vireo extended south from south-central Kansas through central Oklahoma and Texas to central Coahuila, Mexico. At present, the range extends from Oklahoma south through the Edwards Plateau and Big Bend National Park, Texas, to at least the Sierra Madera in central Coahuila, Mexico. In Oklahoma, the Black-capped Vireo is found only in Blaine, Cleveland, and Comanche counties. More

Black-capped vireo - range and distribution Species range and distribution Repoductive characteristics Habitat requirements Threats to extinction Management Guidelines, Texas Literature Historical records from 1852-1956 show that the Black-capped Vireo once occurred from central Kansas south to Mexico (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1996). Figure 1 illustrates the range of the Black-capped Vireo in North America (Robbins, et. al., 1983). More

The tiny black-capped vireo is only 4.5 inches long. Life History Black-capped vireos nest in Texas during April through July, and spend the winter on the western coast of Mexico. They build a cup-shaped nest in the fork of a branch 2 to 4 feet above the ground. More

Black-capped Vireos nest in Texas during April through July, and spend the winter on the western coast of Mexico. They build a cup-shaped nest in the fork of a branch 2 to 4 feet above the ground. Nests are usually built in shrubs such as shin oak or sumac. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks. Note: Special thanks to the photographers for providing images of Texas endangered and threatened animals. All rights to these images are reserved. More

The Black-Capped Vireo in Central Texas = Wildlife Management Pro | Wildlife and Environmental Info Posted Under: Ducks, Geese, & Birds | October 31, 2007 The Black-Capped Vireo in Central Texas Environmental Defense, the Central Texas Cattlemen’s Association and the U.S. Army at Fort Hood share a common desire: They want to see the federally endangered black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla) recover within the next decade. More