FreeLists / bristol-birds / [bristol-birds] Vireos and berries

["Mayhorn" <mayhorn@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bristol Area Birders,
For the last couple of days Red-eyed Vireos have been eating the berries of
our Pagoda or Alternate Leaf Dogwood tree (Cornus alternifolia). The tree
grows up to about 8 inches in diameter and has berries that are a dark blue
and are about the size of Elderberries. I had never seen vireos eat berries
before though I have heard that they will.
Yesterday I watched a parent Red-eyed Vireo as it fed the berries to its
young. It seems strange to think of a Vireo eating berries, but I have
learned that several "insect eaters" especially some warblers eat fruit on
their winter range. So I suppose I should not be surprised.

Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA

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