Black-capped+Vireo

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By: Chad M.



The Black-capped vireo is a songbird native to the United States. It has been listed as an endangered species in the United States since 1987. The Black-capped Vireo is a songbird about 4.5 inches in length. These birds often reach a weight of about 8 to 10 grams. The wingspan is approximently 7 inches on each Black-capped Vireo. These birds live about 5-6 years. Most Black-capped Vireos are found in the state of Texas. Other places that these birds live in are Southern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Coahuila, Mexico. Rangelands with scattered shrubs seperated by open grassland are preferred habitat for the Black-capped Vireo. Black-capped Vireos rely on adult insects, insect larvae, and spiders as their diet. The females lay 3-4 eggs, which hatch in 14-17 days. Both male and female incubate the eggs, and feed the chicks. The black-capped Vireo is endangered because the Brown-headed Cowbirds lay their eggs in the Vireos' nests causing it to abandon their nest. Also range fires, which used to keep the land open and the shrubs growing low to the ground, are not as frequent today as in the days before people settled in Texas.