An endangered songbird in central Texas: Source-sink population dynamics of the black-capped vireo

The black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla) is a songbird endangered by habitat loss and parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater). In central Texas, the largest subpopulation of black-capped vireos (approximately 5000 pairs) is found on the Fort Hood Military Reservation where habitat is maintained by military training and cowbird populations are heavily controlled. Much smaller populations of between 10 and 100 pairs exist on public and privately-owned properties on surrounding habitat remnants. Based on estimates of reproduction and survival, Fort Hood may serve as a source population in this central Texas metapopulation, informing appropriate management strategies of smaller sink populations.