A medium-sized (5 inches) vireo, the Yellow-throated Vireo is most easily identified by its yellow breast, gray tail, gray wings with white wing bars, and olive-green back and head with conspicuous yellow eye-rings. This species may be separated from the Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus), which also has a yellow breast, by that species’ plain brownish-gray wings and tail. Male and female Yellow-throated Vireos are similar to one another in all seasons. The Yellow-throated Vireo breeds across much of the eastern United States and southern Canada. Within this range, this species is mostly absent as a breeding bird from northern New England, south Florida, and the western Gulf coast of Louisiana and Texas. Yellow-throated Vireos spend the winter from southern Mexico and the Bahamas south to northern South America. Yellow-throated Vireos breed in a variety of deciduous or mixed deciduous and evergreen woodland habitats. During the winter, this species may be found along the edges of tropical forests. Yellow-throated Vireos primarily eat small insects, but also eat small quantities of fruits and berries during the winter. In appropriate habitat, Yellow-throated Vireos may be seen foraging for food on leaves and branches at middle heights in the canopy. Birdwatchers may also listen for this species’ song, a series of buzzing notes vaguely recalling portions of American Robin songs. Yellow-throated Vireos are primarily active during the day, but, like many migratory songbirds, this species migrates at night.
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Bibliographic Citation: Rumelt, Reid B. Vireo flavifrons. June-July 2012. Brief natural history summary of Vireo flavifrons. Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
