North America = (South) Carolina, USA.
Forms a clade with V. flavoviridis, V. magister, V. altiloquus and V. gracilirostris, based on genetic analyses#R. Often treated as conspecific with V. gracilirostris, but they appear distinct; sometimes regarded as conspecific with V. flavoviridis, but biochemical studies coupled with morphological and vocal differences strongly indicate that the two are distinct species. Neotropical races sometimes treated as representing a distinct species, under name “V. chivi”, although this apparently diverged from nominate only c. 370,000 years ago (whereas V. flavoviridis and present species diverged from each other c. 4.6 million years ago); “chivi group” of races suggested to have arisen from wintering individuals of nominate race from North America that failed to migrate back N in spring, and, in a situation where migration was largely unnecessary and consequent gene-pool mixing of different populations reduced, further subspeciation of Neotropical populations likely. Additional work required on some resident South American races, which appear to have distinct vocalizations#R. Report of hybridization with V. philadelphicus in SE Canada (Quebec). Ten subspecies recognized.
Food and feeding
Status and conservation
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