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YELLOW-WINGED VIREO  Vireo carmioli 11–12cm Attractive small vireo of

humid highland forest, adjacent clearings and second growth with taller trees.

Mainly at mid–upper levels, often in canopy; lower at edges and in shrubby

second growth with fruiting trees, bushes; joins mixed flocks. Distinctive, with

broad pale eyebrow and crescent below eye, broad pale wingbars, pale tertial

edges. Juv. duller, less distinctly marked overall. SOUNDS: Song comprises varied,

slightly burry, rich short phrases (usually 2–3 syllables) alternated steadily, or

sometimes the same phrase repeated a few times: chreu ch’iliet chríeh…or b’zzhiu,

b’zzhiu, zzhlíeh..., 1 phrase/1.5–8 secs. Calls include rapid buzzy chatter, 0.5–1

sec, rather wren-like. STATUS: Fairly common, mainly 2000m to timberline; some descend locally to

1500m in fall–winter. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

*MANGROVE VIREO  Vireo pallens 11.5–12.2cm. Local in mangroves along

Pacific coast, favoring denser red mangroves. Ranges low to high, singly or in

pairs; at times with mixed flocks of warblers, especially when mobbing pygmy

owls. Distinctive in range and habitat, with overall dingy plumage, pale yellow

loral stripe, pale grayish eyes. Juv. browner above, buffier below. SOUNDS: Rough

rasping scold, zzheh-zzheh.…Song comprises varied series of (usually 3–11)

twangy or buzzy notes, jwieh-jwieh..., or ch’wih ch’wih..., 0.5–2 secs, repeated

every few secs; pace varies, but often slow enough to count notes. STATUS: Fairly

common but often rather local on n. Pacific coast. (Mexico to Costa Rica.)

YELLOW-THROATED VIREO  Vireo flavifrons 13–14cm. Distinctive large

migrant vireo of varied wooded and forested habitats, from rainforest and

hedgerows to dry forest, gardens, plantations. Note bright yellow spectacles,

contrasting white belly, blue-gray shoulders and rump. Mainly at mid–upper

levels, often with mixed flocks and at fruiting trees. SOUNDS: Gruff, slow-paced,

steady chatter and slightly descending, slowing chatter with longer 1st note,

sheh ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch. STATUS: Fairly common Oct–Apr on both slopes, to

1800m; more widespread in migration, Sep–Oct, late Mar–Apr, a few into

early May. (Breeds e. N America, winters Mexico to nw. S America.)

WHITE-EYED VIREO  Vireo griseus 11–12cm. Rare winter migrant to brushy woodland, forest edge,

semi-open areas with thickets and scrub. Forages low to high, often at fruiting trees and shrubs; associates

with mixed flocks of warblers, other vireos. Distinctive, with gray neck sides, yellow spectacles, staring

white eyes (dusky into 1st-winter). SOUNDS:  Nasal scolding sheh-sheh..., often repeated insistently.

STATUS: Very rare mid-Oct to Mar; has been found in lowlands of both slopes and in Central Valley.

(Breeds e. US to Mexico, winters Mexico to Honduras, rarely to Costa Rica.)

BLUE-HEADED VIREO  Vireo solitarius 12.5–13.5cm. Rare winter migrant to varied wooded and

forested habitats, mainly in highlands and foothills. Forages sluggishly, mainly at mid–upper levels, often

in association with mixed flocks of warblers, other vireos. No similar species in Costa Rica: note blue-gray

hood with sharply defined white spectacles, contrasting silky-white throat, greenish back, bold white

wingbars, yellow flanks. SOUNDS: Gruff, scolding, staccato chatter, 1st note often longer and followed

by a slightly slowing, descending series: jehh jeh-jeh.…STATUS: Very rare to rare Nov–Mar; most records

from n. highlands but also reported from Pacific lowlands. (Breeds e. N America, winters to Nicaragua,

rarely to Costa Rica.)