While reading on our back deck this morning, I heard the distinctive call of a yellow-throated vireo. Like most species of vireo, this songbird is more often heard than seen, hunting rather methodically for insects and their larvae in the canopy of large deciduous trees.
Unlike many songbirds, which become less vocal in the heat of summer, the male yellow-throated vireo sings through the season, right up until his departure for Central America or the Caribbean. Nevertheless, though they are common summer residents in Missouri, I rarely encounter them in our neighborhood (despite the presence of many tall shade trees).
It was thus both a surprise and a pleasure to have him stop by this morning. I appreciated both his song and his insect control service and would certainly welcome more regular visits.
