What unique historical distinction does the White-eyed Vireo hold regarding North American avian fossils found in Florida?
Answer
The oldest North American fossil record for the entire vireo family comes from a 400,000-year-old wing bone
The White-eyed Vireo possesses a unique distinction within the context of avian paleontological records for its family in North America. An extremely old fossil specimen belonging to this species has been discovered, providing significant insight into the antiquity of vireos on the continent. This fossil evidence is specifically a wing bone dated to 400,000 years in the past. This finding constitutes the oldest known North American fossil record attributed to the entire vireo family, placing the species' presence in the region much further back in time than many other related songbirds.
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