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Vireo plumbeus

Coues, 1866

Plumbeous Vireo

G5Secure Found in 250 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus). © Jonathan Irons; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Jonathan Irons; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus). © Kaleb Anderson; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Kaleb Anderson; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus). © Amanda Guercio; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Amanda Guercio; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus). © Jonathan Casanova; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Jonathan Casanova; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus). © Mason Maron; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Mason Maron; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus). © William Higgins; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© William Higgins; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus). Photo by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Public Domain (U.S. Government Work), via ECOS.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100629
Element CodeABPBW01280
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyVireonidae
GenusVireo
Synonyms
Vireo solitarius plumbeusCoues, 1866
Other Common Names
Viréo plombé (FR) Vireo Plomizo (ES)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Formerly included in V. solitarius; split by AOU (1997). Sibley and Monroe (1990) cited information from Johnson and Barlow and split V. solitarius into three separate species, V. cassinii (Cassin's Vireo), V. plumbeus (Plumbeous Vireo), and V. solitarius (Solitary Vireo); the three species constitute a superspecies (AOU 1998). Johnson (1995) examined allozyme variation in western vireos of the V. solitarius complex and concluded that V. plumbeus is a distinct species. Johnson stated that Cassin's Vireo (V. cassinii) and Blue-headed Vireo (V. s. solitarius plus the "Mountain Vireo" V. s. alticola) also may deserve species status (based on differences in voice and mtDNA base sequences). See Johnson et al. (1988) and Murray et al. (1994) for analyses of the phylogenetic relationships among vireos.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-10
Change Date1996-05-01
Range Extent Comments
BREEDING: mountains from southern Idaho, Wyoming, southeastern Montana, and southwestern South Dakota south through the southwestern U.S. (southern California to western Texas) and Mexico to Guatemala. NON-BREEDING: winters from southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico south to Honduras. See Sibley and Monroe (1990) and Johnson (1995).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

See Heindel (1996) for information on field identification of the solitary vireo complex.

Habitat

Pinyon-juniper, oak woodland; pine savanna (Belize) (Sibley and Monroe 1990). Ponderosa pine forests, pinyon-juniper woodlands (especially denser woodlands at the upper elevational range of pinyon-juniper), aspen forests, foothill riparian forests, and Gambel oak shrublands with scattered tall trees; occasionally breeds in lowland riparian forests adjacent to foothills (Colorado; Andrews and Righter 1992). Nest is built in twig fork of shrub or conifer, 1-6 m (often less than 3 m) above ground.

Reproduction

Clutch size is 3-5 (usually 4). Incubation, by both sexes, lasts a little less than two weeks. Common host for brown-headed cowbird, especially near settled areas; cowbirds reduces vireo reproductive success (Marvil and Cruz 1989).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparral
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5B,NNRN
ProvinceRankNative
South DakotaS4BYes
WyomingS4BYes
NevadaS3BYes
UtahS3BYes
ColoradoSNRBYes
New MexicoS4B,S4NYes
CaliforniaSNRBYes
IdahoS3BYes
MontanaS3BYes
NebraskaS2Yes
LouisianaS2NYes
TexasS4BYes
ArizonaS5Yes
Navajo NationS5BYes
Roadless Areas (250)
Arizona (126)
AreaForestAcres
Arnold MesaPrescott National Forest12,286
Arnold MesaPrescott National Forest12,286
Arnold MesaPrescott National Forest12,286
Ash CreekPrescott National Forest7,663
Ash CreekPrescott National Forest7,663
Barbershop CanyonCoconino National Forest1,311
Barbershop CanyonCoconino National Forest1,311
Big RidgeKaibab National Forest9,087
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Black River CanyonApache-Sitgreaves National Forests11,817
Black River CanyonApache-Sitgreaves National Forests11,817
Black River CanyonApache-Sitgreaves National Forests11,817
Blind Indian CreekPrescott National Forest26,847
Blind Indian CreekPrescott National Forest26,847
Blind Indian CreekPrescott National Forest26,847
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Boulder CanyonCoconino National Forest4,554
Boulder CanyonCoconino National Forest4,554
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Campbell BlueApache-Sitgreaves National Forests7,003
Campbell BlueApache-Sitgreaves National Forests7,003
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
CenterfireApache-Sitgreaves National Forests13,130
CenterfireApache-Sitgreaves National Forests13,130
Cherry CreekTonto National Forest11,371
Cherry CreekTonto National Forest11,371
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
Cimarron HillsCoconino National Forest5,303
Cimarron HillsCoconino National Forest5,303
Coconino RimKaibab National Forest7,213
Coconino RimKaibab National Forest7,213
Connell MountainsPrescott National Forest7,926
Connell MountainsPrescott National Forest7,926
East Clear CreekCoconino National Forest1,613
East Clear CreekCoconino National Forest1,613
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
Grief HillPrescott National Forest12,535
Grief HillPrescott National Forest12,535
HackberryPrescott National Forest914
HackberryPrescott National Forest914
HackberryCoconino National Forest17,885
HackberryCoconino National Forest17,885
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Hell HoleApache-Sitgreaves National Forests15,512
Hell HoleApache-Sitgreaves National Forests15,512
HellsgateTonto National Forest6,171
HellsgateTonto National Forest6,171
Horse MesaTonto National Forest9,146
Horse MesaTonto National Forest9,146
Hot AirApache-Sitgreaves National Forests31,712
Hot AirApache-Sitgreaves National Forests31,712
Jacks CanyonCoconino National Forest2,858
Jacks CanyonCoconino National Forest2,858
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lower Jacks CanyonCoconino National Forest777
Lower Jacks CanyonCoconino National Forest777
Lower RinconCoronado National Forest3,278
Lower RinconCoronado National Forest3,278
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Romero WSRCoronado National Forest60
Mitchell PeakApache-Sitgreaves National Forests35,398
Mitchell PeakApache-Sitgreaves National Forests35,398
MuldoonPrescott National Forest5,821
MuldoonPrescott National Forest5,821
NolanApache-Sitgreaves National Forests6,780
NolanApache-Sitgreaves National Forests6,780
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
Padre CanyonCoconino National Forest9,431
Padre CanyonCoconino National Forest9,431
Painted BluffsApache-Sitgreaves National Forests43,118
Painted BluffsApache-Sitgreaves National Forests43,118
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
Pine Mountain Wilderness ContiguousPrescott National Forest3,129
Pine Mountain Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest6,518
Pine Mountain Wilderness ContiguousPrescott National Forest3,129
Pine Mountain Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest6,518
PipestemApache-Sitgreaves National Forests34,598
PipestemApache-Sitgreaves National Forests34,598
Red PointKaibab National Forest7,139
Salt HouseApache-Sitgreaves National Forests21,848
Salt HouseApache-Sitgreaves National Forests21,848
Sheridan MountainPrescott National Forest37,600
Sheridan MountainPrescott National Forest37,600
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
SunsetApache-Sitgreaves National Forests28,948
SunsetApache-Sitgreaves National Forests28,948
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,533
Upper Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,533
Upper Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,533
Upper Rincon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,991
Upper Rincon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,991
Walker MountainCoconino National Forest6,382
Walker MountainCoconino National Forest6,382
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
Willis CanyonKaibab National Forest9,688
California (7)
AreaForestAcres
Benton RangeInyo National Forest9,637
Birch CreekInyo National Forest28,816
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
Excelsior (CA)Inyo National Forest45,607
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Colorado (1)
AreaForestAcres
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Montana (2)
AreaForestAcres
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
Tongue River BreaksCuster National Forest17,481
Nevada (5)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Butler Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest25,878
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
Snake - Big WashHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,146
Snake - HatcheryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,627
New Mexico (94)
AreaForestAcres
Alamo CanyonSanta Fe National Forest8,639
Apache Kid ContiguousCibola National Forest67,542
Apache Kid ContiguousCibola National Forest67,542
Apache Kid ContiguousCibola National Forest67,542
Apache MountainGila National Forest17,506
Apache MountainGila National Forest17,506
Aspen MountainGila National Forest23,784
Aspen MountainGila National Forest23,784
Aspen MountainGila National Forest23,784
Black CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,922
Brushy MountainGila National Forest7,199
Brushy MountainGila National Forest7,199
Brushy SpringsGila National Forest5,735
Brushy SpringsGila National Forest5,735
Chama WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest4,168
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Contiguous To Blue Range WildernessGila National Forest1,980
Contiguous To Blue Range WildernessGila National Forest1,980
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
DatilCibola National Forest13,958
DatilCibola National Forest13,958
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Dry CreekGila National Forest26,719
Dry CreekGila National Forest26,719
Dry CreekGila National Forest26,719
Eagle PeakGila National Forest34,016
Eagle PeakGila National Forest34,016
Elk MountainGila National Forest6,550
Elk MountainGila National Forest6,550
Frisco BoxGila National Forest38,979
Frisco BoxGila National Forest38,979
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Goat SpringCibola National Forest5,755
Goat SpringCibola National Forest5,755
Hell HoleGila National Forest19,553
Hell HoleGila National Forest19,553
Juan de Gabaldon GrantSanta Fe National Forest8,023
LargoGila National Forest12,731
LargoGila National Forest12,731
Little Dog And Pup CanyonsLincoln National Forest25,412
Little TesuqueSanta Fe National Forest815
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
Madre MountainCibola National Forest19,839
Madre MountainCibola National Forest19,839
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Mother HubbardGila National Forest5,895
Mother HubbardGila National Forest5,895
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
NolanGila National Forest13,051
NolanGila National Forest13,051
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
Pacheco CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,012
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Poverty CreekGila National Forest8,770
Poverty CreekGila National Forest8,770
RendijaSanta Fe National Forest2,176
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
San JoseCibola National Forest16,950
San JoseCibola National Forest16,950
San JoseCibola National Forest16,950
San Pedro ParksSanta Fe National Forest5,824
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
Scott MesaCibola National Forest39,515
Scott MesaCibola National Forest39,515
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
T BarGila National Forest6,823
T BarGila National Forest6,823
Taylor CreekGila National Forest16,639
Taylor CreekGila National Forest16,639
The HubGila National Forest7,498
The HubGila National Forest7,498
Thompson PeakSanta Fe National Forest33,001
Wagon TongueGila National Forest11,411
Wagon TongueGila National Forest11,411
Wagon TongueGila National Forest11,411
Wahoo MountainGila National Forest23,122
Wahoo MountainGila National Forest23,122
White CapCibola National Forest8,036
White CapCibola National Forest8,036
Utah (15)
AreaForestAcres
0401001Ashley National Forest11,705
0401005Ashley National Forest38,930
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
0401025Ashley National Forest1,471
418014Uinta National Forest9,683
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418022Uinta National Forest17,289
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,296
North FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest8,148
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
References (29)
  1. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  3. Andrews, R., and R. Righter. 1992. Colorado birds: a reference to their distribution and habitat. Denver Museum Natural History xxxviii + 442 pp.
  4. Balda, R. P., and G. C. Bateman. 1971. Flocking and annual cycle of the piñon jay, <i>Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus</i>. Condor 73:287-302.
  5. Barlow, J.C. 1980. Patterns of ecological interactions among migrant and resident vireos on the wintering grounds. Pages 79-107 in A. Keast and E.S. Morton, editors. Migrant birds in the neotropics: ecology, distribution, and conservation. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.
  6. Bent, A.C. 1950. Life histories of North American wagtails, shrikes, vireos, and their allies. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 197. Washington, D.C.
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  23. Sauer, J.R., and S. Droege. 1992. Geographical patterns in population trends of Neotropical migrants in North America. Pages 26-42 in J.M. Hagan, III, and D.W. Johnston, editors. Ecology and conservation of Neotropical migrant landbirds. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.
  24. Sibley, C.G., and B.L. Monroe, Jr. 1990. Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT. xxiv + 1111 pp.
  25. Tarvin, K. A., and G. E. Woolfenden. 1999. Blue Jay (<i>Cyanocitta cristata</i>). No. 469 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
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  29. Willson, M. F. 1966. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Ecological Monographs 36:51-77.