What specific technique does the White-Eyed Vireo employ when capturing a larger or more awkward piece of prey?

The bird pins the item down with its foot before consuming it piece by piece.

The method used by the White-Eyed Vireo for consumption varies depending on the size of the captured food item. For smaller prey items, the bird is capable of swallowing them immediately upon capture without any further manipulation. However, when dealing with prey that is significantly larger or possesses an awkward structure, such as a larger beetle or perhaps a larger caterpillar, a specific technique is utilized. The vireo must first secure the item against the substrate—a branch or leaf—by physically pinning it down using one of its feet. Once secured, the bird proceeds to consume the large item incrementally, taking it piece by piece until the entire catch is ingested. This demonstrates a necessary adaptation for handling substantial protein sources encountered in the dense foliage.