FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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Were you fascinated to learn about the black-capped vireos? If yes, then the tiny North American gray vireos (Vireo vicinior) will also excite you as both birds share a similar range. The gray vireos belong to the order Passeriformes, family Vireonidae, and genus Vireo. This species is covered in gray and white plumage, which gives it a plain but cute look. The location of these birds is based on the season, as during summers, you can find the breeding bird in the southwestern United States, southern California, northern Baja California, and western Texas. However, during wintering, the bird migrates to northwestern Mexico, southwestern Arizona, western Sonora state, and in southern Baja Peninsula in search of warm habitats.
These birds are fascinated with juniper bushes, and they will also nest in such areas. The species chooses to live in habitats such as dry bush, chaparral, arid mountains, and high plains that are relatively warmer. You can often find the birds foraging on the ground for insects which is its primary food source. Even though the gray vireo birds have a small population, the range seems to be increasing, which is great.
Want to know more fun gray vireo facts? Then, keep on reading! Also, check out the articles on gray Kingbird and spotted flycatcher to know more about birds.
The gray vireo is a small North American bird belonging to the order Passeriformes, family Vireonidae, and genus Vireo.
As a bird species, the gray vireo belongs to the class Aves. This class also contains big birds like the hawks and even the tiniest hummingbirds.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN Red List states that the estimated population of this bird is 460,000 mature individuals. It also says that the bird's population is on the rise. About 90.2% growth has been seen in its population in the last three generations.
The gray vireo is one of the native birds of North America. These birds often keep on moving, and a breeding population is present in the southwestern United States, southern California, northern Baja California and it stretches to western Texas. During wintering, these birds can be seen in northwestern Mexico, southwestern Arizona, western Sonora state, and in the southern Baja Peninsula. The only constant population can be found in southwest Texas's Big Bend National Park.
Gray vireos are mainly found in the subtropical zones, which are extensively found in California, Texas, as well as in Mexico. Scrub oak and pinyon-juniper is the preferential habitat for these small birds. It can often be found moving around in the dry scrub, hunting for insects to eat. The bird can also use the scrub and juniper bushes as a place to form its nest. The habitats might change according to the changing seasons. The breeding season for these birds is during the summer season when more time is spent in the dense vegetation.
Apart from the breeding season, gray vireos are mostly a solitary species, and the birds can be seen foraging for themselves. However, just before the wintering begins, the birds will form small flocks so that they can fly to places like Mexico to overwinter. During the breeding season, the species can be agnostic to each other to protect their nest and territory.
The average lifespan of this species is around 4-5 years.
This is a species that forms monogamous pairs during the breeding season. The breeding bird will actively seek out mates, and a mating call is used to woo the female. Males are the ones to seek out space to build the nest, and it is often made on juniper bushes. The nests may also be made in thorny trees that are almost 3-6 ft (92-183 cm) above the ground. It takes 5-6 days to complete making the nest. The female usually lays four eggs and incubates them in the nest for 13-14 days. This species makes cuplike nests. Both males and females will sit on the eggs until the hatching takes place.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the gray vireos (Vireo vicinior) currently have the conservation status of Least Concern.
The gray vireo is a plain-looking small bird species that is covered in white and gray plumage. Its wings have gray feathers, while the belly is paler with gray splotches. This tiny bird has a dark gray or black bill along with black eyes. It also has a white eye-ring that makes the irises pop. On the other hand, the feet have a bluish-gray color. This species does have a long rounded tail with gray feathers on top and pale gray or white feathers on the bottom. The bird looks pretty similar to the bell's vireo.
Most people find this bird species a little dull, but we do think that this tiny vireo looks just as adorable as the warbling vireo or the bell's vireo.
The gray vireo song can be pretty loud even though it comes from such a tiny bird. Different types of calls made by the Vireo vicinior include hu-wee, che-weet, chu-wee, chee, churr, ch-churr-weet, and schray. The fledged chicks make a zeep sound. In Texas, male birds will call till afternoon to woo the females and to establish its territory.
The average size range of the grey vireo species is around 5.1-5.8 in (130–148 mm). The red-eyed vireo has an average size range of 4.7-5.1 in (120-130 mm), making the gray vireos slightly bigger.
Not much is known about the flying speed of the gray vireo species.
The average weight range of the gray vireo is around 0.4-0.48 oz (11.5–13.5 g).
There are no separate names for the male and female birds of this species.
A gray vireo baby is called a chick.
The Vireo vicinior depends on fruits and insects as its main source of food. Its habitat will often decide the type of food it consumes, but these birds forage on the ground looking for food in most cases. To make the search easy, the birds often scratch the surface of the ground with their feet. Insects like beetles, caterpillars, small moths, bugs, field crickets, treehoppers, dobsonflies, cicadas, and grasshoppers are mostly eaten during breeding. In its wintering habitat in Mexico, the birds indulge in eating a lot of fruits. In addition, these birds like to feed on berries that grow on elephant trees.
No, this bird is too tiny to be dangerous.
The grey vireo is a wild bird that has a low population. Hence, it wouldn't be a great idea to keep the species as a pet.
The brown-headed cowbird often parasites the nest of the gray vireo by leaving its eggs to be raised by the vireo family.
In Mexico, gray vireos are also known as vireo gris.
No conclusive data is found about the interaction of the gray vireos with humans.
Compared to other birds, the population status of gray vireos is supposed to flourish due to climate change without the need for conservation. As the bird already lives in warm areas, it may even take over the habitat of some other birds of North America.
For more relatable content, check out these gnatcatcher and giant Kingfisher facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable gray vireo coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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