Unlimited edition. 18 x 24 inch, museum-quality poster on matte paper.

The black-capped vireo is a Texas bird superstar, although its breeding range extends north into Oklahoma and just crosses the southern border into Mexico. The species’ recovery is a remarkable conservation success story. When it was federally listed in 1987, its numbers had declined to 350 birds throughout its range, a species on the brink of extinction. The small songbird had seen its Texas scrub oak habitat reshaped through development and livestock overgrazing, and its nests were also relentlessly targeted by brown-headed cowbirds. (You can read more about brood parasitism and cowbirds by visiting the brown-headed cowbird “Field Guide” poster). Following the federal listing, Texas and Oklahoma, the U.S. Army, Mexico, private landowners, and environmental groups worked together to enact strict conservation measures on public and private lands, including grazing restrictions, grassland restoration projects, prescribed burns (“good fire”), and the shooting of cowbirds. By 2018, the black-capped vireo population was estimated to be “well into the tens of thousands,” and the bird was removed from the endangered species list. Of course, contrary to what some folks argue, delisting should not mean an end to the established and successful conservation measures.

The black-capped vireo is an incredibly charismatic creature. With its olive and citron back, velvety black cap, distinctive white mask, and lovely carmine eyes, I can’t help but see it as a vintage aviator, replete with goggles and leather helmet. Here’s hoping the population of little pilots continues to stay aloft.

Note: These archival poster prints feature rich, appealing colors. I encourage customers to take care in handling them until they are framed/protected for display; the darker colors on the matte paper can be scratched. They ship rolled, so customers need to flatten them before framing (or have their framer do so).

Charitable Sales Model: Whenever one of these poster prints is purchased, a charitable contribution equal to 10% of the print’s cost (or $3.60) is made to a nonprofit working to tackle environmental or social challenges. Read more about my charitable sales model here.