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UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Volume 12, No. 5, pp. 241-296, 6 figs. March 7, 1962
Natural History of the Bell Vireo, Vireo bellii Audubon
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS, MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Theodore H. Eaton, Jr., Henry S. Fitch
Volume 12, No. 5, pp. 241-296, 6 figs. Published March 7, 1962
PRINTED BY JEAN M. NEIBARGER, STATE PRINTER TOPEKA, KANSAS 1962
Natural History of the Bell Vireo, Vireo bellii Audubon
PAGE CONTENTS 243 INTRODUCTION 245 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 245 METHODS OF STUDY 246 STUDY AREA 247 Considerations of Habitat 248 SEASONAL MOVEMENT 250 Arrival in Spring 250 Fall Departure 251 GENERAL BEHAVIOR 252 Flight 252 Foraging and Food Habits 252 Bathing 253 VOCALIZATIONS 254 Singing Postures 255 Flight Song 255 Daily Frequency of Song 255 Types of Vocalizations 255 TERRITORIALITY 258 Establishment of Territory 259 Size of Territories 259 Permanence of Territories 260 Maintenance of Territory 260 Aggressive Behavior of the Female 264 Interspecific Relationships 264 Discussion 265 COURTSHIP BEHAVIOR 267 Displays and Postures 268 Discussion 270 SELECTION OF NEST-SITE AND NESTBUILDING 272 Building 274 Gathering of Nesting Materials 276 Length and Hours of Nestbuilding 277 Abortive Nestbuilding Efforts 277 Renesting 277 The Nest 277 EGGLAYING AND INCUBATION 278 Egglaying 278 Clutch-size 279 Incubation 280 The Roles of the Sexes in Incubation 280 Relief of Partners in Incubation 283 NESTLING PERIOD 283 Hatching Sequence 283 Development of the Nestlings 284 Parental Behavior 285 Feeding of the Nestlings 286 Nest Sanitation 287 Fledging 287 Nest Parasites 287 FLEDGLING LIFE 288 Second Broods 288 REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS 289 Behavior 290 Predation 291 Cowbird Parasitism 291 SUMMARY 292 LITERATURE CITED 294
The Bell Vireo (_Vireo bellii_ Aud.) is a summer resident in riparian and second growth situations in the central United States south of North Dakota. In the last two decades this bird has become fairly common in western, and to a lesser extent in central, Indiana and is apparently shifting its breeding range eastward in that state (Mumford, 1952; Nolan, 1960). In northeastern Kansas the species breeds commonly and occurs in most tracts of suitable habitat.