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Over-the-counter deer firearm permit sales begin on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Due to recent software updates beyond IDNR’s control, some vendors may have limited availability to print permits and licenses. IDNR is working closely with the license system provider to quickly address the issue for those vendors. To locate unaffected vendors, use the agent locator at https://www.exploremoreil.com/agentlocator.

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Philadelphia vireo

Philadelphia vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)
Illinois Status: common, native
Photo © Alan Murphy Photography

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
The Philadelphia vireo is about five and one-fourth inches long. It has a faint white wing bar, a white eye line and a short, dark line in front of the eye. The back, tail and wing feathers are gray-green. The feathers on the underside of the body are plain and vary from white with very pale yellow to more consistently yellow throughout.

BEHAVIORS
This species is a common migrant through Illinois. It can be seen in woodlands, where it feeds on insects and sometimes fruits. Its closest nesting location to Illinois is in northern Wisconsin. The species winters in Mexico and Central America. Spring migrants begin reaching Illinois in late April. Fall migrants start appearing in August.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Vireonidae

Habitats

Woodland
upland deciduous forests