Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

The Yellow-throated Vireo is considered the most brightly colored of the Vireos, with a bright yellow throat, breast, and "spectacles" around a dark eye.  They prefer mature deciduous forest, and are most often found high in the canopy and among the foliage.

Habitat: Uses mature deciduous forests during the summer breeding season, especially along lakeshores and streams.  They generally avoid mixed or coniferous forests, as well as forests with a thick shrubby undergrowth.  Uses a wide variety of habitats during the winter, from tropical rain forest to dry scrublands.

Diet: Most of the summer diet is insects.  Fruits and berries are also consumed, primarily in the winter months.

Behavior: Forages by moving through foliage for insects, often quite high in the forest canopy. 

Nesting: Late May through early July

Breeding Map: Breeding Bird Survey map

Song: Short 2- or 3-note phrases, separated by deliberate pauses.  Click to hear the Yellow-throated Vireo song.

Migration: Summers throughout the eastern half of the United States.  A few overwinter in southern Florida, but most move out of the United States for the winter. 

Similar Species: Pine Warbler

Conservation Status: Generally stable, although there have been declines in the Northeast offset by gains in the Midwest.  They are fairly common hosts to cowbird parasitism.

Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Yellow-throated Vireo

2) Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Yellow-throated Vireo

3) eNature.com: Yellow-throated Vireo

Photo Information: May 17th, 2006 -- Newton Hills State Park -- Terry Sohl

Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Yellow-throated Vireo photos.