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VIREOS (VIREONIDAE; 15+ SPECIES) Mainly New World family of small songbirds.

Typical vireos resemble heavily built warblers but are, in fact, more closely related to jays and

crows. Ages similar or different, soon attain adult appearance; sexes usually similar. Often

sluggish, best detected by tirelessly repeated songs; calls mainly scolding mews and chatters.

LESSER GREENLET  Pachysylvia decurtata 10.5–11.5cm. Rather plain little

bird of humid forest canopy, adjacent taller second growth, occasionally coming

lower at edges. In pairs or small groups, foraging in leafy canopy; often with

mixed flocks of tanagers, warblers, other vireos. Note small size, rather short

tail, gray head with ‘soft’ face and whitish eyering. SOUNDS: Nasal, often per­

sistent scolding yiih yiih.…Song an unhurried repetition of simple, 2–4-syllable,

slightly plaintive whistled phrases, 2nd part lower than 1st, sípi-chee or wíchil-

i-wee, every 2–8 secs. STATUS: Fairly common to common on both slopes, to

1500m. (Mexico to w. Ecuador.)

TAWNY-CROWNED GREENLET  Tunchiornis ochraceiceps 11.5–12.5cm. Odd

little bird of shady lower and mid-levels in humid forest, often in areas with

understory palms. Regularly travels with mixed flocks including antwrens,

Stripe-crowned Warblers. Note bushy tawny cap, pale eyes in gray face, ochre

breast, pinkish legs; cf. female Plain Antvireo (p. 264). SOUNDS: Short series of

nasal, overslurred notes, dwoi-dwoi-dwoi…and variations. Song a high, plain­

tive, whining, insect-like whistle, whiiii, about 0.5 sec, every 2–3 secs; may be

preceded by a short liquid trill or chortling chatter. STATUS: Fairly common on

both slopes, to 1200m. (Mexico to S America.)

*YELLOW-GREEN [SCRUB] GREENLET  Hylophilus [flavipes] viridiflavus

11–12cm. Distinctive but often inconspicuous little bird of low scrub, over­

grown pastures, dense second growth. Singles or pairs move sluggishly in foli­

age, plucking fruit and insects; usually independent of flocks. Note pale eyes,

sharply pointed pinkish bill. SOUNDS: Low rasping churr, at times in short

series. Song a series of (usually 3–20) rich, slurred, disyllabic whistles ch’wee

ch’wee…or d’wee d’wee..., at times speeding slightly toward the end, 2–3 phrases/

sec; repeated after pauses. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on Pacific

slope, to 900m. (Costa Rica to Panama.)

RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE  Cyclarhis gujanensis 14–15cm. Distinc­

tive bulky vireo of varied wooded and forested habitats from oak forest and

mangroves to gardens, scrubby thickets. Sluggish at mid–upper levels, often with

mixed flocks or at fruiting trees. No similar species; note staring amber eye, rusty

brow on gray head, stout pale bill. SOUNDS: Song a varied, short warbled phrase

of loud rich whistles, such as chikee wheer peeripee pee-oo, or weer cheery-choo,

every 5–15 secs. Also (female only?) a slightly descending series of (usually 5–12)

sad rich whistles, given irregularly, often difficult to trace: treéu treéu.…

STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon on both slopes, mainly 700–2400m, and

locally in nw. lowlands. (Mexico to S America.)

GREEN SHRIKE-VIREO  Vireolanius pulchellus 13.5–14.5cm. Chunky bright

green bird of humid lowland forest canopy; heard far more often than seen. At

upper and mid-levels in taller trees, at times with mixed flocks. Sings from perch

in subcanopy. Distinctive, but cf. Golden-browed Chlorophonia (p. 388), which

has stubby bill, yellow belly. Comprises 2 groups: Northern V. [p.] pulchellus on

Caribbean slope, with blue on forecrown, face, and nape of male (female has less

blue); Southern V. [p.] viridiceps on s. Pacific slope, with blue on both sexes

limited to nape. Juv. duller with diffuse yellow face stripes, soon like adult.

SOUNDS: Far-carrying song a chant of (typically 3–5) rich whistled notes, every

1–4 secs. Song of Northern averages slower-paced with notes more strongly downslurred, often distinctly

disyllabic, chewee chewee chewee. Southern song averages quicker, lower-pitched, notes downslurred or

overslurred, héu héu héu. Hard, rasping scold, djehr djehr…and squeaky rippling chatters. STATUS: Fairly

common to uncommon on both slopes, especially in lower foothills, to 1200m. (Mexico to Panama.)