Species · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Black-whiskered Vireo

VireonidaeForest birdsVireo altiloquus

Black-whiskered Vireo has collapsed: down 88% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

-88%Since 1968
18Routes
56Years Surveyed

About the Black-whiskered Vireo

The Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus) is a North American member of the Vireos (Vireonidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the forest birds.

Size
4.5–6 in long (11–15 cm) — a small, deliberate songbird (typical for the family)
Habitat
Woodlands and forest edges, including wooded suburbs and parks.
Diet
Insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark, with seeds and berries in season.
Range
Recorded on 18 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 1 state, most concentrated in the Peninsular Florida.
Family
Vireonidae · Forest birds

Notable Black-whiskered Vireo Trends

No notable trend signals for Black-whiskered Vireo. See the full index history below.

Black-whiskered Vireo Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Black-whiskered Vireo is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.01 (95% range 0.00–0.04). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±1029.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2029
0.01Projected 2029 index
0.000.0495% range
±1029.5%Backtest error
19662029
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected index95% low95% high
20250.010.000.04
20260.010.000.04
20270.010.000.04
20280.010.000.04
20290.010.000.04

Where the Black-whiskered Vireo Is Detected

BBS routes recording Black-whiskered Vireo, sized by most recent count.

Black-whiskered Vireo Population Trend by State

Black-whiskered Vireo population trend by state.
Florida-83%196818

Black-whiskered Vireo Population Trend by Region

Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.

Black-whiskered Vireo population trend by Bird Conservation Region.
Peninsular Florida-85%196817

Black-whiskered Vireo Conservation Status

Our route-weighted index shows it down about 88% since 1968.

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.