Philadelphia vireo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philadelphia vireo |
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Vireo
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philadelphicus
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The Philadelphia vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) is a small North American songbird. It belongs to a group of birds called vireos. The word "vireo" comes from a Latin word. It refers to a green bird that travels a lot. The "Philadelphia" part of its name comes from the city of Philadelphia.
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What Does It Look Like?
Adult Philadelphia vireos have olive-brown feathers on their backs. Their bellies are bright yellow. They have dark eyes and a grey top of the head.
These birds do not have special markings on their wings. They also don't have a ring around their eyes. You can see a dark line going through their eyes. There is also a white stripe just above this line. They have strong blue-grey legs and a thick beak.
The Philadelphia vireo looks a lot like the warbling vireo. But you can tell them apart. The Philadelphia vireo has much yellower feathers underneath. It also has dark markings near its eyes.
Where Do They Live and What Do They Eat?
These birds build their nests in Canada. They like to live at the edges of forests. These forests have trees that lose their leaves in the fall. They also live in mixed forests.
Nest and Eggs
Philadelphia vireos make a nest shaped like a basket. They build it in the fork of a tree branch. Their nests are usually placed high up in the trees.
The female bird lays about 3 to 5 white eggs. These eggs have light spots. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs. This incubation period lasts up to 14 days.
Migration and Food
These birds are migratory. This means they travel long distances. They fly south to Mexico and Central America for the winter.
It is very rare to see a Philadelphia vireo in western Europe. They usually do not visit Philadelphia itself. They only pass through during their migration.
Philadelphia vireos mostly eat insects. They look for insects in trees. Sometimes they hover in the air to catch insects flying by. They also eat berries, especially before they migrate.
Their Song
The Philadelphia vireo has a special song. It usually has three to five notes. It sounds like weeezh weeezh weeezh. Their song is very similar to the song of the red-eyed vireo.
Images for kids
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South Padre Island - Texas
See also
In Spanish: Vireo de Filadelfia para niños
