The New International Encyclopædia/Vireo
VIR'EO (Lat. vireo, greenfinch, from virere, to
be green, vigorous), or . The common
name of a family of about fifty insectivorous
birds, having a plumage more or less tinted with
green and olive. In the genus Vireo the bill is
short, straight, notched, and hooked at the tip;
wings long and pointed; toes of moderate length;
tail moderate and even. There are about 30
species, a dozen of which occur in the United
States, most of them migrating to and from
South America and the West Indies. Many of
these birds are singers, and the variety of song
in the genus is great. All subsist exclusively
upon insects, and are of immense service to the
gardener and orchardist. All agree, also, in
constructing a very artistic nest in the form of a
cup of ribbon-like materials, such as grape-vine
bark, ornamented with cobwebs, lichens, and the
like; the typical form is shown on the Plate of
, under .
The most familiar and widespread species in
the United States is the red-eyed vireo (Vireo
olivaceus), about six inches long; back and tail
bright olive green, crown ashy, and a characteristic
double line, dusky and white, over the eye,
the iris of which is red. The white-eyed vireo
(Vireo Noveboracensis) is very similar, but has
a white iris. A more southerly species is Vireo
barbatulus, called ‘Whip-Tom Kelley’ in Jamaica
after its call-notes. Of the others, the most
striking is the yellow-throated (Vireo flavifrons),
which is bright olive green above, pure white
beneath, and with the throat and breast bright
yellow.