Philadelphia Vireos and Merlin

[birdrecords]

Please Note – the Merlin app cannot accurately distinguish between Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos. If Merlin has identified a Philadelphia Vireo, please get a visual confirmation before reporting it to eBird. Numerous birders have had a singing Red-eyed Vireo in view and watched Merlin mis-identify it as a Philadelphia Vireo. There is also debate as to whether the two species can be told apart by voice given the Red-eyed Vireo’s ability to alter its song and mimic the Philadelphia. Visual confirmation is critical for any Philadelphia Vireo report. 

Thank you!

New Hampshire Bird Records 

All about birds and birding in New Hampshire 

www.nhbirdrecords.org 

[Christopher McPherson]

Excellent advice!

Question - Isn't it the Philadelphia Vireo that mimics the larger, more aggressive Red-eyed Vireo?  I would be interested in any recent literature describing this behaviour if anyone is aware of anything published.

I know of these articles published in the 70's and 80's:

Rice, J.C (1978b). Behavioral Interactions of two interspecific territoria Vireos. I: Song discrimination and natural interactions. Animal Behaviour 26:527-549

Robinson, Scott, K. (1983?) Ecological Relations and Social Interactions of Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos: Condor 83: 16-26

I believe both of these articles point to the Philadelphia Vireo as the mimic in order to benefit from the notorious Red-eyed Vireo temperament. 

The work done by Robinson was at Hubbard Brook in Thornton, New Hampshire.  The Rice articles (I believe there are 3 on the topic) have been hard to find but what is clear and needs further study is the complex relationship between Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireo.

Any tips on published work on this topic would be appreciated!

Chris McPherson

Brookline NH

My apologies for the tangent

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