| Bell's Vireo | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Vireonidae |
| Genus: | Vireo |
| Species: | V. bellii |
| Binomial name | |
| Vireo bellii Audubon, 1844 |
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The Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii)[1] is a small North American songbird. It is 4-3/4 to 5 inches (12-13 cm) in length, dull olive-gray above and whitish below. It has a faint white eye ring and faint wing bars.
This bird was named by Audubon for John Graham Bell, who accompanied him on his trip up the Missouri River in the 1840s.
The Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus), is an endangered subspecies in Southern California. Consideration of Bell's Vireo has been a factor in several land development projects, to protect Least Bell's Vireo habitat. The decline of the Least Bell's Vireo is mostly due to a loss of riparian habitat and brood parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird.
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The Bell's Vireo makes a well-camouflaged nest but when found the bird will stand its ground against intruders. Cowbirds use Bell's Vireo nests as their own nurseries. Bell's Vireo often uses Western poison oak shrubs or vines as nesting locations.[2] Cowbirds sometimes lay eggs in Bell's Vireo nests.
