English and Scientific names:

Yellow-green Vireo (Vireo flavoviridis flavoviridis)

Number of individuals: 

One male (singing)

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Cameron Parish

Specific Locality:

“Young’s Grocery Woods” off LA-82, Johnson Bayou

Date(s) when observed:

18 May 2009

Time(s) of day when observed:  

~10:30 AM – 12:00 PM CDT

Reporting observer and address:

Devin Bosler

Lancaster, PA

Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

E.J. Raynor, Gary Broussard

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)

David Muth, Phillip Wallace (first discovered this individual on 17 May 2009), Paul Conover

Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

Clear sky with optimal midday sunlight.  Sun angle high and backlighting or glare not a factor.

 

Optical equipment: 

Zeiss Victory FL 8x42, Nikon Fieldscope w/ 20-60x optical zoom, Canon Powershot SD 1100 IS (equipment in good condition)

Distance to bird(s): 

within ca. 10 meters

Duration of observation:

1.25 hrs (non-continuous)

Habitat: 

Mature, disturbed coastal chenier woodlot.  Live oak-honeylocust-hackberry dominated woodlot with some herbaceous understory.

Behavior of bird: 

The vireo was observed in flight and feeding.  It was actively foraging high in the canopy of several large live oaks near LA-82.  It moved quickly through the foliage and seldom perched out in full view.  On a few occasions, there were interactions with REVI but otherwise it foraged alone.  Much less cooperative than the Peveto Beach Woods bird observed earlier.

 

Description:

A vireo with bright greenish-yellow upperparts and extensive yellow wash on underparts, especially on sides, flanks, underwing and undertail coverts.  Grayish crown blending with back and upperparts color.  Pale supercilium bordered by weak dark lines.  Dark eye line.  Greenish auriculars blended with yellow sides and whitish throat.  Large, pale horn bill.  Dark red irides.  Blackish tarsi and feet.

Voice:

A short series of liquid, vireo-like notes in rapid succession.  Scolding calls were a soft, dry ‘rieh’, similar to REVI.

Similar species:

Very similar to Red-eyed Vireo (REVI) in appearance, however Yellow-green Vireo (YGVI) is much brighter green-yellow on upperparts and considerably more yellow on underparts (hardly any yellow wash below on REVI).  In addition, YGVI has rather indistinct, blended head pattern (not bold as in REVI) and a much larger, paler bill.  Song unlike REVI.  No other similar N.A. vireos.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

Yes, digiscoped photo by Devin Bosler.  Yes, attached.

Previous experience with this species: 

Only previous experience with this species from trip to Panama in May 2005.  A few were seen and heard in canal zone.  Plus, one individual seen earlier that day at Peveto Beach Woods (only about 3 mi. east).

Identification aids:

National Geographic Complete Birds of N.A. (Alderfer et al. 2005).

This description is written from: 

notes made during the observation, notes made after the observation, memory.

Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain: 

 

Yes, very positive.

Reporter: 

Devin Bosler 

Date and time: 

27 June 2009    12:00 AM EDT